Bucknell Women’s Soccer Plays Scoreless Draw at No. 17 West Virginia for First-Ever Point against Ranked Opponent

Sunday, September 11

Morgantown, W.Va.

1 p.m.

Bucknell University

3-3-1, 0-0-0

West Virginia

3-2-3, 0-0-0

Bucknell

West Virginia

Bucknell Women’s Soccer Plays Scoreless Draw at No. 17 West Virginia for First-Ever Point against Ranked Opponent

9/11/2022 3:59:00 PM | Women's Soccer

Box Score

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The Bucknell women's soccer team used a sensational all-around effort to make a little history on Sunday at Dick Dlesk Soccer Stadium. Backed by six saves from goalkeeper Jenna Hall, the Bison kept a clean sheet against No. 17 West Virginia and finished in a scoreless draw, marking the team's first-ever point against a nationally ranked opponent.

The Bison are now 3-3-1 on the season with the start of Patriot League play coming up on Friday at Navy. West Virginia, which already had a win and a draw against ranked teams this season, fell to 3-2-3.

"I'm so happy with the passion and heart that the whole team showed today," said head coach Kelly Cook. "We executed the game plan and found a way to grind out a tough tie against an experienced, ranked team. Our defense was awesome from start to finish. Jenna Hall made some good saves and was very aggressive coming off her line to clean up some plays, and the two center backs Brooke Tracey and Olivia DeConinck had unreal games."

West Virginia finished with a 13-7 shot advantage, but the Bison were able to generate two of the game's better scoring chances.

Inside four minutes remaining in the first half, Ashley Groeber delivered a 40-yard cross from a wide position. Henna Andican ran onto the service and struck a volley that was knocked down by keeper Kayza Massey, and then Andican put the rebound over the bar.

The Bison put a couple of shots on goal from distance in the second half, and Teresa Deda had a good look in the 77th minute when she got in on an overlap with Andican, but her shot sailed high.

Hall made two of her six saves in the final 10 minutes, one on Lilly McCarthy and the last on Dilary Heredia-Beltran with two minutes left.

This was the second year in a row that Bucknell turned in a strong effort against a ranked West Virginia side. Last season at Emmitt Field, Rylee Donaldson scored the game's opening goal before the Mountaineers rallied for a 3-1 win.

Sunday's match was reminiscent of another famous 0-0 draw in team history. In 2009, Bucknell battled Penn State to a scoreless tie at Emmitt Field. That Penn State team, featuring future U.S. National Team goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher, had been ranked earlier in the season but was not at the time of the game.

The Bison now turn their attention to Patriot League play which kicks off on Friday night at Navy in a battle of teams picked 1-2 and separated by just one point in the league's preseason. Bucknell defeated Navy twice last season, including a 1-0 overtime thriller in the Patriot League Tournament semifinals. The game is set for 7 p.m. with coverage on ESPN+.