Women’s Soccer Rides Three-Goal Burst in First Half to Win at La Salle

Sunday, September 3

Philadelphia, Pa.

1 p.m.

Bucknell University

3-2-1, 0-0-0

La Salle

2-4-0, 0-0-0

Bucknell

La Salle

Photo by: Lianne Garrahan

Women’s Soccer Rides Three-Goal Burst in First Half to Win at La Salle

9/3/2023 4:18:00 PM | Women's Soccer

Box Score

PHILADELPHIA, Pa. – After conceding an early goal, the Bucknell women's soccer team responded with three first-half scores of its own and defeated La Salle 3-1 on a hot Sunday afternoon at McCarthy Stadium. The Bison improved to 3-2-1 on the season, with all three wins coming against teams from the Atlantic 10.

The Explorers (2-4), who were coming off a 3-1 win over Seton Hall on Thursday, had the Bison under pressure early, and they were rewarded with a beautiful strike from Elizabeth Estrada in the 16th minute. The Bison could only clear the ball as far as Estrada a few yards outside the box, and Estrada took a touch infield and curled a shot inside the top right corner.

Bucknell responded almost immediately with three goals in a span of 17 minutes. Just 3:31 after the La Salle goal, the Bison found an equalizer off the head of Reese Evans. Hannah Stuck's service was cleared away by the defense, but Meghan White recycled the ball back into the area, where Evans flicked it home for her second goal of the season.

The Bison earned a corner kick less than six minutes later, and this time it was a running header from Katie Schiano off the delivery from Teresa Deda that gave the visitors the lead. It was the first career goal for the junior right back.

Bucknell's second attacking unit provided a number of quality chances throughout the game, and Kelley Francis scored a terrific goal in the 36th minute to make it 3-1. Deda played a perfectly weighted through ball to Francis in the right channel, and Francis stopped on a dime before firing into the far side netting for her fourth career goal.

"This was a good win on the road, and I'm proud of the way the team responded after a tough start," said head coach Kelly Cook. "Credit to La Salle for coming out fast and making it tough on us at the start. We had some difficult external factors with the same-day travel and playing on turf on a very hot day, but once we settled into the game we moved the ball around and played our style. Kelley's goal was huge. Our bench played some key minutes today."

Schiano nearly had a brace, but her rocket grazed the crossbar about nine minutes into the second half. The Bison forced backup goalkeeper Michela Auguadro into six second-half saves, with Deda and Henna Andican both putting two quality shots on frame.

Jenna Hall had a strong game with four saves behind a defense that did not concede many open looks after allowing the early goal. Estrada did find some room for a hard shot on target in the final two minutes, but Hall was there for the save.

Both teams finished with 16 shots, and La Salle led 3-2 in corner kicks.

Deda's two assists give her four on the season and 24 in her career, putting her in sole possession of second place on Bucknell's all-time list.

Bucknell returns home for two games next week. The Bison host Colorado College on Thursday at 7 p.m., and Air Force next Sunday at noon.