Thursday, November 2
Lewisburg, Pa.
7 p.m.
Bucknell University
12-3-4
3
vs
1
Boston University (PL Semifinals)
7-7-6
1
2
F
Boston University
0
1
1
Bucknell
2
1
3
Photo by: Lianne Garrahan
Women’s Soccer Runs Past Boston University 3-1 in Patriot League Semifinals, Bison Back in Title Match for Third Straight Year
11/2/2023 10:13:00 PM | Women's Soccer
LEWISBURG, Pa. – Patriot League Midfielder of the Year Teresa Deda scored in the first five minutes of each half, leading the Bucknell women's soccer team to a resounding 3-1 win over Boston University in a Patriot League Tournament semifinal match played before more than 1,000 fans at chilly Emmitt Field at Holmes Stadium on Thursday night.
The Bison are back in the league title match for the third straight year, and they will be returning to the site of last year's final, Army West Point. The top-seeded Black Knights used a late goal to get past No. 6 Colgate 1-0 in the other semifinal bout.
Bucknell is now 12-3-4 on the season and will take an eight-game unbeaten streak (6-0-2) into Sunday's final. The 12 wins are tied for second-most in program history, trailing only the 2016 squad that finished 16-2-2. The team's last loss came at West Point back on Sept. 23. The Bison also finished off an unbeaten home slate, going 8-0-2 at Emmitt Field this season. They are unbeaten in their last 15 home games (9-0-6) dating back to a loss to Princeton last season.
The two-time defending champion Bison looked the part on Thursday. Playing for the first time in eight days, the No. 2 seed scored the first three goals of the match, conceding only a consolation goal that broke up Jenna Hall's shutout bid with 13 seconds remaining.
Bucknell was flying right from the opening touch, and Deda cashed in the game's first goal with a left-footed screamer just 4:30 into the match. The three-time All-Patriot League midfielder found space at the top of the box and pounded a shot into the right-side netting.
Hall made seven saves on the night, and her first tough one came on Giulianna Gianino's free kick from a dangerous area not long after Deda's opening salvo. That proved big when the Bison doubled their advantage in the 24th minute. Left back Meghan White carried the ball past midfield and then continued her run after passing to Paige Temple. Temple then delivered a perfectly weighted ball in behind the back line, and White slotted a right-footed shot past Celia Braun for her second goal of the season.
The Terriers (7-7-6) tried to press coming out of the halftime break, but the Bison caught them on a counter just 3:38 after the resumption of play. Henna Andican's back-post service was headed back acrobatically by Hannah Stuck on the end line, and Deda ran on and smashed home a shot with Temple screening the goalkeeper.
Deda leads the Patriot League with nine assists, and now she has nine goals to go with it, second-most in the Patriot League. She is only the second player in Bucknell history with at least nine goals and nine assists in a season, joining Hall-of-Famer Lisa Gibbons, who had an unfathomable 19 goals and 19 assists in 1994. Andican handed out two assists in the game, giving her nine on the season to match Deda for the league lead. That is the third-highest total in team history.
Hall made a nifty diving save on Natalie Godoy's turning shot in the 55th minute to keep it 3-0. The Bison thought they had a fourth when Riley Hayes headed in Deda's service in the 83rd minute, but the offside flag went up.
One of Hall's better saves of the night was a leaping stop on Gianino's sharp-angles shot in the closing seconds, but Fagan popped in the rebound to deny Hall her ninth shutout of the season.
Bucknell's back line was terrific all night in front of Hall, particularly junior right back Katie Schiano, who intervened time and time again as Boston University tried to play through First Team All-Patriot League forward Abigail McNulty.
Bucknell won last year's Patriot League title in penalty kicks after the Bison and Black Knights played 110 scoreless minutes. Sunday's game starts at noon and will be televised on CBS Sports Network. It will be a clash of two red-hot sides. While the Bison are unbeaten in their last eight games, Army has won its last six, conceding only two goals in the process.
The Bison are back in the league title match for the third straight year, and they will be returning to the site of last year's final, Army West Point. The top-seeded Black Knights used a late goal to get past No. 6 Colgate 1-0 in the other semifinal bout.
Bucknell is now 12-3-4 on the season and will take an eight-game unbeaten streak (6-0-2) into Sunday's final. The 12 wins are tied for second-most in program history, trailing only the 2016 squad that finished 16-2-2. The team's last loss came at West Point back on Sept. 23. The Bison also finished off an unbeaten home slate, going 8-0-2 at Emmitt Field this season. They are unbeaten in their last 15 home games (9-0-6) dating back to a loss to Princeton last season.
The two-time defending champion Bison looked the part on Thursday. Playing for the first time in eight days, the No. 2 seed scored the first three goals of the match, conceding only a consolation goal that broke up Jenna Hall's shutout bid with 13 seconds remaining.
Bucknell was flying right from the opening touch, and Deda cashed in the game's first goal with a left-footed screamer just 4:30 into the match. The three-time All-Patriot League midfielder found space at the top of the box and pounded a shot into the right-side netting.
Teresa Deda wastes no time getting the Bison on the board! #rayBucknell
— Bucknell Women's Soccer (@Bucknell_WSOC) November 2, 2023
Watch: https://t.co/cIV7vE2RaR@PatriotLeagueTV | @ESPN pic.twitter.com/tYSu1HDmTj
Hall made seven saves on the night, and her first tough one came on Giulianna Gianino's free kick from a dangerous area not long after Deda's opening salvo. That proved big when the Bison doubled their advantage in the 24th minute. Left back Meghan White carried the ball past midfield and then continued her run after passing to Paige Temple. Temple then delivered a perfectly weighted ball in behind the back line, and White slotted a right-footed shot past Celia Braun for her second goal of the season.
Here's a look at the Meghan White goal! Brilliant run by the left back, and a great feed from Paige Temple for the assist. It's 2-0 Bison after 24 minutes.
— Bucknell Women's Soccer (@Bucknell_WSOC) November 2, 2023
Watch: https://t.co/cIV7vE2RaR@PatriotLeagueTV | @ESPN pic.twitter.com/rtHWTSnKCD
The Terriers (7-7-6) tried to press coming out of the halftime break, but the Bison caught them on a counter just 3:38 after the resumption of play. Henna Andican's back-post service was headed back acrobatically by Hannah Stuck on the end line, and Deda ran on and smashed home a shot with Temple screening the goalkeeper.
How about this header by Hannah Stuck to set up Teresa Deda for her brace! It's 3-0 Bison just four minutes into the second half. #rayBucknell
— Bucknell Women's Soccer (@Bucknell_WSOC) November 3, 2023
Watch: https://t.co/cIV7vE2RaR@PatriotLeagueTV | @ESPN pic.twitter.com/ybtcARftwb
Deda leads the Patriot League with nine assists, and now she has nine goals to go with it, second-most in the Patriot League. She is only the second player in Bucknell history with at least nine goals and nine assists in a season, joining Hall-of-Famer Lisa Gibbons, who had an unfathomable 19 goals and 19 assists in 1994. Andican handed out two assists in the game, giving her nine on the season to match Deda for the league lead. That is the third-highest total in team history.
Hall made a nifty diving save on Natalie Godoy's turning shot in the 55th minute to keep it 3-0. The Bison thought they had a fourth when Riley Hayes headed in Deda's service in the 83rd minute, but the offside flag went up.
One of Hall's better saves of the night was a leaping stop on Gianino's sharp-angles shot in the closing seconds, but Fagan popped in the rebound to deny Hall her ninth shutout of the season.
Bucknell's back line was terrific all night in front of Hall, particularly junior right back Katie Schiano, who intervened time and time again as Boston University tried to play through First Team All-Patriot League forward Abigail McNulty.
Bucknell won last year's Patriot League title in penalty kicks after the Bison and Black Knights played 110 scoreless minutes. Sunday's game starts at noon and will be televised on CBS Sports Network. It will be a clash of two red-hot sides. While the Bison are unbeaten in their last eight games, Army has won its last six, conceding only two goals in the process.
A great effort from the entire team tonight!#rayBucknell pic.twitter.com/QOAFQQhdJ2
— Bucknell Women's Soccer (@Bucknell_WSOC) November 3, 2023
Team Stats
BOSTON
BUCKNELL
Goals
1
3
Shots
13
14
Shots on Goal
8
7
Saves
4
7
Corners
5
2
Fouls
9
11
Scoring Plays
Deda, Teresa (8)
Assisted By: Andican, Henna
21 wins possession fires home with left
4:30
White, Meghan (2)
Assisted By: Temple, Paige
LB makes run in behind, 4 plays her in
23:28
Deda, Teresa (9)
Assisted By: Stuck, Hannah , Andican, Henna
27 service to back post, 22 heads it bac
48:38
Fagan, Morgan (4)
Assisted By: Gianino, Giulianna
29 knocks in rebound after initial save
89:47
Game Leaders
Shots
4
SOG
4
Goals
2
Assists
0
Shots
1
SOG
1
Goals
1
Assists
0
Shots
6
SOG
2
Goals
0
Assists
2
Shots
0
SOG
0
Goals
0
Assists
1
Players Mentioned
F
/ Women's SoccerM
/ Women's Soccer
GK
/ Women's Soccer
M
/ Women's Soccer
D
/ Women's Soccer
M
/ Women's SoccerF
/ Women's SoccerD
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