Wednesday, October 16
Lewisburg, Pa.
7 p.m.
Bucknell University
9-4-2, 5-1PL
1
vs
0
Loyola University
5-4-5, 1-2-3PL
1
2
F
Loyola
0
0
0
Bucknell
1
0
1
Photo by: Lianne Garrahan
Women’s Soccer Smothers Loyola for Third Straight 1-0 Win
10/16/2024 10:04:00 PM | Women's Soccer
LEWISBURG, Pa. – The Bucknell women's soccer team turned to a familiar winning formula on Wednesday night at Emmitt Field at Holmes Stadium. Teresa Deda scored a first-half goal, and a swarming defense took it from there, as the first-place Bison held off Loyola for their third straight win, all by 1-0 scorelines.
Now 9-3-2 overall and 5-1 in Patriot League play, Bucknell remains at the top of the table with 15 points. Boston University (3-0-3) moved into second place with 12 points after a 3-0 win over Holy Cross, while Army West Point (3-2-1) dropped one spot to third after playing fourth-place Lafayette (2-1-3) to a scoreless draw.
Last time out at Navy, it was Deda scoring in the 30th minute in a 1-0 victory. This time Deda waited until the 44th to find the back of the net for her team-leading eighth goal of the season. The Bison could not find a second goal despite a number of high-quality chances, but they didn't need one thanks to hard work in their own end against reigning Patriot League Player of the Year Baylee DeSmit and a dangerous Loyola attack.
DeSmit entered the night tied for the Patriot League lead with 11 goals, including two in Loyola's 3-0 win over Army in its most recent game. DeSmit, who has either scored or assisted on 14 of Loyola's 17 goals this season, rarely found space in this one and was limited to two shot attempts, both coming from outside the box that were easily saved by Jess Benattar.
Backs Katie Schiano, Julia Palitti, Laura Schmidt, and Meghan White along with holding center midfielder Sydney Hess helped limit Loyola to four shots all night. Benattar stopped them all, the last of which was a tricky one on a redirect from Francesca Khachatourians with about five minutes left in the match.
By contrast, Bucknell peppered 18 shots, including seven from Deda. Loyola keeper Brigid Mulholland also made four saves, two coming in spectacular fashion on shots from Deda and Riley Hayes in the 56th minute. Three minutes later, Paige Temple just missed over the bar, and in the first half, Kelley Francis saw a shot ticketed for the top left corner palmed aside by Mulholland.
Bucknell's goal came just 1:06 before the halftime break. Kalli Wethern served a ball into the box from the left sideline that was headed by a Loyola defender toward the back post. Hayes was first to it, and her quick shot beat the keeper but was saved off the line by Asma Merzougui. Deda settled the ball out of the air and fired back through traffic and into the back of the net.
Here's a look at Teresa Deda's 8th goal of the season, coming just before the halftime break. Riley Hayes had a ball saved off the line, and then T cleaned up the rebound. #rayBucknell
— Bucknell Women's Soccer (@Bucknell_WSOC) October 17, 2024
Watch: https://t.co/rdvOzneFgL@ESPN | @PatriotLeagueHQ pic.twitter.com/SFlQXmp1eB
It was Deda's 21st career goal, which moves her into a tie for 10th place on Bucknell's all-time list. Combined with her record-tying 35 assists, Deda now has 77 career points. She jumped past Kerry McDonnell into the No. 7 spot on the career points list and is now just one behind Christa Matlack for sixth.
The shutout was the seventh of the season for the team and the fifth solo clean sheet for Benattar, who is now 8-1-1 on the campaign with a 0.40 goals-against average. Since giving up eight goals in back-to-back losses to Pittsburgh and Monmouth, the Bison have conceded only twice in their last nine outings.
Next up for Bucknell is a 1 vs. 2 battle in Boston on Sunday. The Bison and Terriers kick off at 1 p.m. at Nickerson Field.
Team Stats
LOYOLA
BUCKNELL
Goals
0
1
Shots
4
18
Shots on Goal
4
5
Saves
4
4
Corners
2
7
Fouls
5
9
Scoring Plays
Deda, Teresa (8)
Assisted By: Hayes, Riley
12 shot cleared off line, 21 finishes re
43:54
Game Leaders
Shots
7
SOG
2
Goals
1
Assists
0
Shots
2
SOG
2
Goals
0
Assists
1
Shots
3
SOG
0
Goals
0
Assists
0
Shots
2
SOG
0
Goals
0
Assists
0
Players Mentioned
GK
/ Women's Soccer
M
/ Women's Soccer
F
/ Women's Soccer
M
/ Women's Soccer
M
/ Women's Soccer
D
/ Women's Soccer
D
/ Women's Soccer
D
/ Women's Soccer
F
/ Women's Soccer
F
/ Women's Soccer
D
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