Saturday, October 5
Lewisburg, Pa.
1 p.m.
Bucknell University
7-3-2, 3-1PL
1
vs
0
Holy Cross
5-7-1, 2-1-1PL
1
2
F
Holy Cross
0
0
0
Bucknell
0
1
1
Photo by: Lianne Garrahan
Hess’s Header Sends Women’s Soccer to 1-0 Senior Day Win over Holy Cross
10/5/2024 4:11:00 PM | Women's Soccer
LEWISBURG, Pa. – Sydney Hess's header from the center of the box off a Reese Evans corner kick in the 67th minute gave the Bucknell women's soccer team a 1-0 Senior Day win over visiting Holy Cross on Saturday afternoon at Emmitt Field at Holmes Stadium.
The three points propelled the Bison (7-3-2, 3-1 PL) past the Crusaders (5-7-1, 2-1-1 PL) and Boston University into sole possession of first place in the Patriot League. Army can join Bucknell on nine points with a win over Lehigh later on Saturday.
"Holy Cross is a tough team to play against, so this was a huge three points against a team that was ahead of us coming into the day," said head coach Kelly Cook. "I thought we made some good adjustments to help solve some of their pressure. We got the ball on the ground and were able to build some chances, and then we scored a great set-piece goal with a perfect delivery from Reese and a strong finish by Sydney. It was even better to get the win on Senior Day, as this group of nine seniors has had such an incredible impact on our program."
Bucknell had most of the scoring chances throughout the match against a solid and physical defensive team in Holy Cross. The Bison went into the half a bit frustrated after being denied on a handful of good looks. Evans, one of the nine seniors honored before the game, was everywhere in the first half. She had a free kick and a point-blank shot saved by Julia Walsh and also just missed over the bar with a rising shot in the 34th minute.
Senior Paige Temple forced Walsh into a diving save, and then in the final four minutes of the half Temple chested down a Meghan White service just outside the six but her half-volley went over the bar.
Bucknell regained some steam as the match went past the hour mark. Teresa Deda just missed connecting with Kelley Francis on cross that flashed across the face of goal, and then Walsh made her best save of the night to tip away a Katie Connell shot.
The Bison finally cashed in on the ensuing corner kick, however, as Evans put her delivery right onto the head of Hess in the center of the area. The junior holding midfielder recorded her first goal of the season and second of her career, while Evans picked up her third assist of the season.
The Bison did have to withstand some heavy pressure in the final minutes. Abigail Cushing's lefty attempt didn't miss the right post by much with five minutes to play. Bucknell dealt with a handful of services into the box, and the Crusaders' last threat slipped away when Walsh's free kick from just inside the midfield line sailed over everyone and out for a goal kick with 50 seconds left.
Jess Benattar returned to the Bison goal after a one-game injury absence and made three saves on the way to her fourth solo shutout of the season. Walsh, the Patriot League leader in save percentage, finished with six saves for Holy Cross, which had allowed only four goals in its previous nine games coming in.
The Bison are now 25-6-3 all-time against Holy Cross and 17-1-1 in the last 19 meetings, and this was their ninth straight home win over the Crusaders.
Before the match, Bucknell honored its nine seniors: Olivia DeConinck, Deda, Evans, Francis, Katie Schiano, Laura Schmidt, Tess Sutter, Temple, and Kalli Wethern. The class won Patriot League championships in each of its first three seasons and has suffered only five losses in 38 games against league opponents.
Next up for the Bison is a trip to Navy on Friday night. The Mids are 2-1-1 after drawing 1-1 with Boston University on Saturday, and they are just two points in back of the Bison in the table.
The three points propelled the Bison (7-3-2, 3-1 PL) past the Crusaders (5-7-1, 2-1-1 PL) and Boston University into sole possession of first place in the Patriot League. Army can join Bucknell on nine points with a win over Lehigh later on Saturday.
"Holy Cross is a tough team to play against, so this was a huge three points against a team that was ahead of us coming into the day," said head coach Kelly Cook. "I thought we made some good adjustments to help solve some of their pressure. We got the ball on the ground and were able to build some chances, and then we scored a great set-piece goal with a perfect delivery from Reese and a strong finish by Sydney. It was even better to get the win on Senior Day, as this group of nine seniors has had such an incredible impact on our program."
Bucknell had most of the scoring chances throughout the match against a solid and physical defensive team in Holy Cross. The Bison went into the half a bit frustrated after being denied on a handful of good looks. Evans, one of the nine seniors honored before the game, was everywhere in the first half. She had a free kick and a point-blank shot saved by Julia Walsh and also just missed over the bar with a rising shot in the 34th minute.
Senior Paige Temple forced Walsh into a diving save, and then in the final four minutes of the half Temple chested down a Meghan White service just outside the six but her half-volley went over the bar.
Bucknell regained some steam as the match went past the hour mark. Teresa Deda just missed connecting with Kelley Francis on cross that flashed across the face of goal, and then Walsh made her best save of the night to tip away a Katie Connell shot.
The Bison finally cashed in on the ensuing corner kick, however, as Evans put her delivery right onto the head of Hess in the center of the area. The junior holding midfielder recorded her first goal of the season and second of her career, while Evans picked up her third assist of the season.
Here's the Sydney Hess goal that has the Bison in front in the second half! #rayBucknell
— Bucknell Women's Soccer (@Bucknell_WSOC) October 5, 2024
Watch: https://t.co/Nvp7s4vywM@PatriotLeagueHQ | @ESPN pic.twitter.com/du0NFthSJW
The Bison did have to withstand some heavy pressure in the final minutes. Abigail Cushing's lefty attempt didn't miss the right post by much with five minutes to play. Bucknell dealt with a handful of services into the box, and the Crusaders' last threat slipped away when Walsh's free kick from just inside the midfield line sailed over everyone and out for a goal kick with 50 seconds left.
Jess Benattar returned to the Bison goal after a one-game injury absence and made three saves on the way to her fourth solo shutout of the season. Walsh, the Patriot League leader in save percentage, finished with six saves for Holy Cross, which had allowed only four goals in its previous nine games coming in.
The Bison are now 25-6-3 all-time against Holy Cross and 17-1-1 in the last 19 meetings, and this was their ninth straight home win over the Crusaders.
Before the match, Bucknell honored its nine seniors: Olivia DeConinck, Deda, Evans, Francis, Katie Schiano, Laura Schmidt, Tess Sutter, Temple, and Kalli Wethern. The class won Patriot League championships in each of its first three seasons and has suffered only five losses in 38 games against league opponents.
Next up for the Bison is a trip to Navy on Friday night. The Mids are 2-1-1 after drawing 1-1 with Boston University on Saturday, and they are just two points in back of the Bison in the table.
Team Stats
HC
BUCKNELL
Goals
0
1
Shots
10
16
Shots on Goal
3
7
Saves
6
3
Corners
2
5
Fouls
13
12
Scoring Plays
Hess, Sydney (1)
Assisted By: Evans, Reese
Header off corner
66:57
Game Leaders
Shots
2
SOG
1
Goals
1
Assists
0
Shots
4
SOG
2
Goals
0
Assists
1
Shots
4
SOG
2
Goals
0
Assists
0
Shots
4
SOG
1
Goals
0
Assists
0
Players Mentioned
GK
/ Women's Soccer
F/M
/ Women's Soccer
D
/ Women's Soccer
M
/ Women's Soccer
M
/ Women's Soccer
F
/ 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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