Thursday, August 14
Philadelphia, Pa.
6 p.m.
Bucknell University
2
at
3
La Salle
Photo by: Lianne Garrahan
Women’s Soccer Drops High-Scoring Opener at La Salle, 3-2
8/14/2025 9:03:00 PM | Women's Soccer
PHILADELPHIA, Pa. – Bucknell's Henna Andican and Louisa Thomsen scored highlight-reel goals, but La Salle quickly answered both and then survived two attempts off the crossbar in the final 75 seconds of the match to hold off the Bison 3-2 on the opening night of the 2025 women's soccer season on Thursday at McCarthy Stadium.
Seven Bucknell players made their first collegiate starts, including the entire back four, but the Bison had many bright moments against a La Salle team that finished 8-5-5 a year ago. The Bison had the game's first good scoring opportunity in the 16th minute when a hand ball just outside the box led to a dangerous free kick for Riley Hayes, but La Salle goalkeeper Mackenna Yaracs did well to smother the low shot through lots of traffic.
Only two minutes later, La Salle scored the first of three goals in a wild six-minute flurry. After a quick exchange of possession in the middle of the park, Jillian Drumm unleashed a 30-yard shot under the bar. The Bison needed only 1:37 to draw level. After a throw-in, Katie Connell played the ball back to Ava Palladino, who sent Andican down the left flank. From a sharp angle deep in the left corner, Andican somehow fired a left-footed shot firmly off the far post and in. The senior recorded her 11th career goal and her first start since suffering an injury early last season. Palladino, a sophomore who missed all of last season with an injury, earned her first career point with the assist.
Only four minutes after the Andican equalizer, Kayden Williams headed home a corner kick to give La Salle the lead right back. A diving save from Jess Benattar on Alexis Garcia in the 37th minute kept it a 2-1 game at the half.
Thomsen brought Bucknell level again with a brilliant left-footed strike from well outside the box in the 57th minute. After a La Salle throw, the sophomore pounced on a loose ball, took two touches centrally, and fired a rocket into the top left corner for her first career goal.
Again, the Explorers quickly responded. Just 1:47 later, Garcia's shot from the 18 went down off the crossbar and spun out, but the assistant referee ruled that the ball crossed the goal line.
The woodwork came into play at the other end in the late moments of the match. Freshman Gaby Parker nearly scored a dramatic first goal in the 89th minute, but her redirect from close range struck the bar. The Bison earned a corner kick in the final 15 seconds, and with Emma Gavin, Caitlyn Scott, and two defenders pursuing Palladino's inswinging service, the ball bounced up and grazed the bar on the way out.
"This was a really well-played game for a season opener, and we are going to take away a lot of positives," said head coach Kelly Cook. "We have a lot of new faces out there, and some of the returning players are even playing new positions. Give La Salle a lot of credit, they are a tough, physical team that competes hard. Even though we didn't get the result we wanted, tonight made us better, and I was proud of the fight the team showed. These non-league games are meant to test us and push us."
The Bison finished with a 12-11 shot advantage, and both keepers were credited with four saves. This was Bucknell's first season-opener on the road since 2014, and it came on the earliest opening date in team history.
Bucknell continues its opening-week road trip with a game at Delaware on Sunday at 6 p.m.
Seven Bucknell players made their first collegiate starts, including the entire back four, but the Bison had many bright moments against a La Salle team that finished 8-5-5 a year ago. The Bison had the game's first good scoring opportunity in the 16th minute when a hand ball just outside the box led to a dangerous free kick for Riley Hayes, but La Salle goalkeeper Mackenna Yaracs did well to smother the low shot through lots of traffic.
Only two minutes later, La Salle scored the first of three goals in a wild six-minute flurry. After a quick exchange of possession in the middle of the park, Jillian Drumm unleashed a 30-yard shot under the bar. The Bison needed only 1:37 to draw level. After a throw-in, Katie Connell played the ball back to Ava Palladino, who sent Andican down the left flank. From a sharp angle deep in the left corner, Andican somehow fired a left-footed shot firmly off the far post and in. The senior recorded her 11th career goal and her first start since suffering an injury early last season. Palladino, a sophomore who missed all of last season with an injury, earned her first career point with the assist.
Here's a look at the first Bison goal of the season. How did Henna do it from that angle? #rayBucknell
— Bucknell Women's Soccer (@Bucknell_WSOC) August 14, 2025
Watch: https://t.co/Xd5Vs5q9fy pic.twitter.com/mE42hletbP
Only four minutes after the Andican equalizer, Kayden Williams headed home a corner kick to give La Salle the lead right back. A diving save from Jess Benattar on Alexis Garcia in the 37th minute kept it a 2-1 game at the half.
Thomsen brought Bucknell level again with a brilliant left-footed strike from well outside the box in the 57th minute. After a La Salle throw, the sophomore pounced on a loose ball, took two touches centrally, and fired a rocket into the top left corner for her first career goal.
Check out this banger from Louisa Thomsen! A memorable first career goal for the sophomore. #rayBucknell #PLTop3
— Bucknell Women's Soccer (@Bucknell_WSOC) August 14, 2025
Watch: https://t.co/Xd5Vs5qH56 pic.twitter.com/nKLbCZGYXB
Again, the Explorers quickly responded. Just 1:47 later, Garcia's shot from the 18 went down off the crossbar and spun out, but the assistant referee ruled that the ball crossed the goal line.
The woodwork came into play at the other end in the late moments of the match. Freshman Gaby Parker nearly scored a dramatic first goal in the 89th minute, but her redirect from close range struck the bar. The Bison earned a corner kick in the final 15 seconds, and with Emma Gavin, Caitlyn Scott, and two defenders pursuing Palladino's inswinging service, the ball bounced up and grazed the bar on the way out.
"This was a really well-played game for a season opener, and we are going to take away a lot of positives," said head coach Kelly Cook. "We have a lot of new faces out there, and some of the returning players are even playing new positions. Give La Salle a lot of credit, they are a tough, physical team that competes hard. Even though we didn't get the result we wanted, tonight made us better, and I was proud of the fight the team showed. These non-league games are meant to test us and push us."
The Bison finished with a 12-11 shot advantage, and both keepers were credited with four saves. This was Bucknell's first season-opener on the road since 2014, and it came on the earliest opening date in team history.
Bucknell continues its opening-week road trip with a game at Delaware on Sunday at 6 p.m.
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