Sunday, August 17
Newark, Del.
6 p.m.
Bucknell University
0-2-0, 0-0-0
1
at
2
Delaware
2-0-0, 0-0-0
1
2
F
Bucknell
0
1
1
Delaware
1
1
2
Photo by: Lianne Garrahan
Women’s Soccer Falls 2-1 at Delaware on Late Goal
8/17/2025 9:30:00 PM | Women's Soccer
NEWARK, Del. – Less than eight minutes after Katie Connell pulled Bucknell level, Taisiya Reid knocked in a rebound in the 86th minute to give Delaware a 2-1 win on Sunday night at Stuart & Suzanne Grant Stadium. The Bison suffered their second straight one-goal loss on the season's opening week, and now they will look forward to a run of three straight home games.
Delaware, which scored five goals in an opening-night win over Mount St. Mary's, is off to a 2-0 start.
In Thursday's 3-2 setback at La Salle, the Bison scored two brilliant goals but conceded within four minutes both times. The trend continued on Sunday as Connell's sensational strike was followed by a couple of tough bounces off the woodwork.
Down a goal at intermission, Bucknell had the upper hand for most of the second half. Leah Bolson, Louisa Thomsen, Reilly Traynor, and Dani Howard all had quality scoring chances, and then the Bison finally cashed in with 12:18 remaining.
Riley Hayes switched fields with a long diagonal ball out to Connell on the left flank. Connell, a Preseason All-Patriot League selection, dribbled at her defender and fired inside the right post from the top corner of the area.
Moments later, the Bison came within inches of taking the lead when freshman Audra Toth rocked the crossbar with a long-range attempt, and Gaby Parker's first-touch redirect sailed over.
In the final five minutes, Maggie Groh, who scored Delaware's first-half goal, forced Jess Benattar into a diving save. The ball deflected off the right post, and Reid got to the rebound first and popped it into the open net to give the Blue Hens the lead right back.
"I loved our energy in the second half and it was great that we found a goal to tie the game, but the group is learning that we have to put together a full 90 minutes," said head coach Kelly Cook. "It's a young team, and figuring out how to close out games is an important part of the learning process."
The start of the match was delayed about 45 minutes due to lightning in the area, and the Bison came out hot. Bucknell earned four corner kicks in the first 5:30, and Parker was robbed on a diving save by Delaware keeper Sophia Hall.
Groh got Delaware on the board in the 22nd minute with a nice left-footed shot that grazed the underside of the crossbar.
Henna Andican's nifty back-heel flick from a Hayes cross was just off the mark in the 33rd minute. About two minutes later, Benattar made a terrific reaction save on Olivia Hoover, and then Connell cleared the follow-up attempt off the line at the left post.
Delaware finished the evenly played match with an 11-10 edge in shots, while the Bison led 8-3 in corner kicks. Cook used eight substitutes on the warm, humid night.
Bucknell hosts Monmouth in its home opener on Thursday at 7 p.m. at Emmitt Field at Holmes Stadium.
Delaware, which scored five goals in an opening-night win over Mount St. Mary's, is off to a 2-0 start.
In Thursday's 3-2 setback at La Salle, the Bison scored two brilliant goals but conceded within four minutes both times. The trend continued on Sunday as Connell's sensational strike was followed by a couple of tough bounces off the woodwork.
Down a goal at intermission, Bucknell had the upper hand for most of the second half. Leah Bolson, Louisa Thomsen, Reilly Traynor, and Dani Howard all had quality scoring chances, and then the Bison finally cashed in with 12:18 remaining.
Riley Hayes switched fields with a long diagonal ball out to Connell on the left flank. Connell, a Preseason All-Patriot League selection, dribbled at her defender and fired inside the right post from the top corner of the area.
78' | Bucknell 1, Delaware 1
— Bucknell Women's Soccer (@Bucknell_WSOC) August 18, 2025
GOAL!!! Katie Connell ties it up with a sensational strike! #rayBucknell pic.twitter.com/dZtEE27qxu
Moments later, the Bison came within inches of taking the lead when freshman Audra Toth rocked the crossbar with a long-range attempt, and Gaby Parker's first-touch redirect sailed over.
In the final five minutes, Maggie Groh, who scored Delaware's first-half goal, forced Jess Benattar into a diving save. The ball deflected off the right post, and Reid got to the rebound first and popped it into the open net to give the Blue Hens the lead right back.
"I loved our energy in the second half and it was great that we found a goal to tie the game, but the group is learning that we have to put together a full 90 minutes," said head coach Kelly Cook. "It's a young team, and figuring out how to close out games is an important part of the learning process."
The start of the match was delayed about 45 minutes due to lightning in the area, and the Bison came out hot. Bucknell earned four corner kicks in the first 5:30, and Parker was robbed on a diving save by Delaware keeper Sophia Hall.
Groh got Delaware on the board in the 22nd minute with a nice left-footed shot that grazed the underside of the crossbar.
Henna Andican's nifty back-heel flick from a Hayes cross was just off the mark in the 33rd minute. About two minutes later, Benattar made a terrific reaction save on Olivia Hoover, and then Connell cleared the follow-up attempt off the line at the left post.
Delaware finished the evenly played match with an 11-10 edge in shots, while the Bison led 8-3 in corner kicks. Cook used eight substitutes on the warm, humid night.
Bucknell hosts Monmouth in its home opener on Thursday at 7 p.m. at Emmitt Field at Holmes Stadium.
Team Stats
BUCK
DEL
Goals
1
2
Shots
10
11
Shots on Goal
3
5
Saves
3
2
Corners
8
3
Fouls
5
10
Scoring Plays
Maggie Groh (3)
Assisted By: Calista Collins
GOAL by DEL Groh, Maggie Assist by Collins, Calista.
21:34
Katie Connell (1)
Assisted By: Riley Hayes
GOAL by BUCK Connell, Katie Assist by Hayes, Riley.
77:42
Taisiya Reid (2)
GOAL by DEL Reid, Taisiya.
85:25
Game Leaders
Players
Shots
2
SOG
1
Goals
1
Assists
0
Shots
1
SOG
0
Goals
0
Assists
1
fwd
Shots
2
SOG
1
Goals
0
Assists
0
Shots
1
SOG
1
Goals
0
Assists
0
Players Mentioned
F
/ Women's Soccer
GK
/ Women's Soccer
M
/ Women's SoccerF
/ Women's SoccerM
/ Women's SoccerM
/ Women's SoccerF
/ Women's Soccer
M
/ Women's Soccer
M
/ Women's Soccer
D
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