Thursday, September 1
Lewisburg, Pa.
7 p.m.
Bucknell University
3-1-0
2
vs
0
Binghamton
1-3-1
1
2
F
Binghamton
0
0
0
Bucknell
1
1
2
Bucknell Women’s Soccer Blanks Binghamton, 2-0
9/1/2022 10:03:00 PM | Women's Soccer
LEWISBURG, Pa. – Using contributions from its proven veterans and its young newcomers, the Bucknell women's soccer team turned back Binghamton 2-0 in non-league action Thursday night at Emmitt Field. Senior Rylee Donaldson and freshman Sydney Hess tallied the goals, and the Bison defense held strong on the way to a second straight shutout victory.
Now 3-1 on the season, Bucknell generated plenty of scoring chances and outshot the Bearcats (1-3-1) 24-11. Donaldson and Teresa Deda both attempted seven shots, and seniors Abby Gearhart and Petie Nassetta controlled the midfield for much of the night.
Meanwhile, sophomore Olivia DeConinck made her first career start and played the full 90 minutes at center back. Freshmen Hess, Meghan White, and Henna Andican also had impressive performances as head coach Kelly Cook used 10 substitutes.
"I'm very happy with the way the group bounced back coming off a difficult road trip to Colorado," said Cook. "We had some really good build-up play and at times looked nice and quick, which is something that we talked about leading up to the game. We still need some better finishing quality, but overall I was very pleased with how we moved the ball around."
Bucknell needed only 6:51 to get on the scoreboard. Gearhart played a beautiful ball over the top to Donaldson, whose initial shot didn't make it through goalkeeper Nicole Scott and a lunching center back behind her. But Donaldson hopped over the pileup and poked home the rebound for her third official goal of the season (she also scored in a weather-abandoned game against Mount St. Mary's).
Binghamton responded with some pressure after conceding the early goal. The Bearcats generated four corner kicks over the next several minutes, and Nassetta swept a Peyton Gilmore shot off the goal line in the 15th minute.
Bucknell regained its footing and dominated the last 20 minutes of the half. Donaldson continued to be a menace, as she logged six of her seven shots in the first half. She had one shot saved after she broke in from the left and another just flashed wide from the opposite side.
Scott made her best save of the night on Andican in the 37th minute, leaping to tip a hard left-footed strike over the bar.
Both teams changed goalkeepers in the second half, with Kaitlyn Williams replacing Scott for Binghamton and Jenna Hall coming on for Kaylee Donnelly for Bucknell. Williams was tested early, as Deda nearly scored on a long-range free kick that the Bearcats keeper went up high to catch before nearly backing into the goal.
Bucknell finally cashed in on that insurance goal, and it was Hess coming up from her holding midfield position to head home Deda's corner kick in the 66th minute. Hess, a local product from nearby Benton, Pa., picked up her first collegiate goal. Deda, just four games into her sophomore season, moved into a tie for seventh place alongside Krista Lee Gentile on Bucknell's career assists chart with her 15th.
Hall made five second-half saves to preserve the clean sheet, the best coming in the final minute on a free kick around the wall from Victoria McKnight.
Binghamton's goalkeepers combined for 11 saves, while Donnelly and Hall combined for six. Both teams attempted seven corner kicks.
Bucknell is now 7-0-1 in its last eight home games dating back to last season, and now the Bison embark on a five-game road swing. They visit Youngstown State on Sunday afternoon and then visit Towson, West Virginia, Navy, and American before returning to Emmitt Field to play Colgate on Sept. 24.
Now 3-1 on the season, Bucknell generated plenty of scoring chances and outshot the Bearcats (1-3-1) 24-11. Donaldson and Teresa Deda both attempted seven shots, and seniors Abby Gearhart and Petie Nassetta controlled the midfield for much of the night.
Meanwhile, sophomore Olivia DeConinck made her first career start and played the full 90 minutes at center back. Freshmen Hess, Meghan White, and Henna Andican also had impressive performances as head coach Kelly Cook used 10 substitutes.
"I'm very happy with the way the group bounced back coming off a difficult road trip to Colorado," said Cook. "We had some really good build-up play and at times looked nice and quick, which is something that we talked about leading up to the game. We still need some better finishing quality, but overall I was very pleased with how we moved the ball around."
Bucknell needed only 6:51 to get on the scoreboard. Gearhart played a beautiful ball over the top to Donaldson, whose initial shot didn't make it through goalkeeper Nicole Scott and a lunching center back behind her. But Donaldson hopped over the pileup and poked home the rebound for her third official goal of the season (she also scored in a weather-abandoned game against Mount St. Mary's).
Rylee Donaldson gets the Bison on the board early! After her initial shot was saved, she navigated the traffic to pop in the loose change. #rayBucknell@PatriotLeague TV | @ESPN
— Bucknell Women's Soccer (@Bucknell_WSOC) September 1, 2022
Watch Live: https://t.co/4xWsXkxkkI pic.twitter.com/PE11OgqaVQ
Binghamton responded with some pressure after conceding the early goal. The Bearcats generated four corner kicks over the next several minutes, and Nassetta swept a Peyton Gilmore shot off the goal line in the 15th minute.
Bucknell regained its footing and dominated the last 20 minutes of the half. Donaldson continued to be a menace, as she logged six of her seven shots in the first half. She had one shot saved after she broke in from the left and another just flashed wide from the opposite side.
Scott made her best save of the night on Andican in the 37th minute, leaping to tip a hard left-footed strike over the bar.
Both teams changed goalkeepers in the second half, with Kaitlyn Williams replacing Scott for Binghamton and Jenna Hall coming on for Kaylee Donnelly for Bucknell. Williams was tested early, as Deda nearly scored on a long-range free kick that the Bearcats keeper went up high to catch before nearly backing into the goal.
Bucknell finally cashed in on that insurance goal, and it was Hess coming up from her holding midfield position to head home Deda's corner kick in the 66th minute. Hess, a local product from nearby Benton, Pa., picked up her first collegiate goal. Deda, just four games into her sophomore season, moved into a tie for seventh place alongside Krista Lee Gentile on Bucknell's career assists chart with her 15th.
Hall made five second-half saves to preserve the clean sheet, the best coming in the final minute on a free kick around the wall from Victoria McKnight.
Binghamton's goalkeepers combined for 11 saves, while Donnelly and Hall combined for six. Both teams attempted seven corner kicks.
Bucknell is now 7-0-1 in its last eight home games dating back to last season, and now the Bison embark on a five-game road swing. They visit Youngstown State on Sunday afternoon and then visit Towson, West Virginia, Navy, and American before returning to Emmitt Field to play Colgate on Sept. 24.
Team Stats
BING
BUCKNELL
Goals
0
2
Shots
11
24
Shots on Goal
7
13
Saves
11
7
Corners
7
7
Fouls
4
6
Scoring Plays
Donaldson, Rylee (3)
Initial shot saved, 5 puts in own reboun
6:51
Hess, Sydney (1)
Assisted By: Deda, Teresa
Header off corner kick
65:36
Game Leaders
Players
Shots
7
SOG
3
Goals
1
Assists
0
Shots
1
SOG
1
Goals
1
Assists
0
Shots
7
SOG
5
Goals
0
Assists
1
Shots
3
SOG
2
Goals
0
Assists
0
Players Mentioned
F
/ Women's Soccer
D
/ Women's Soccer
M
/ Women's Soccer
F
/ Women's Soccer
GK
/ Women's Soccer
M
/ Women's Soccer
GK
/ Women's SoccerM
/ Women's Soccer
M
/ Women's Soccer
M
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