Bucknell University
0-3-0, 0-0-0
Monmouth
1-2-0, 0-0-0
Women’s Soccer Drops 3-2 Heartbreaker to Monmouth on 90th-Minute Goal
8/21/2025 10:23:00 PM | Women's Soccer
LEWISBURG, Pa. – Bucknell freshman Dani Howard (Freehold, N.J./Freehold Township) scored the tying goal in the 88th minute, but Monmouth's Ashley Lavrich one-upped her with a long-range shot with 22 seconds remaining, sending the Hawks to a 3-2 win in the Bison's home opener on Thursday night at Emmitt Field at Holmes Stadium.
Howard and senior Reilly Traynor (Rye, N.Y./Rye) both potted their first career goals in the second half of a wide-open match, but Monmouth responded both times. The Bison have now dropped three straight one-goal games against quality competition to start the season, while Monmouth bounced back after last week's losses to Seton Hall and Pittsburgh. The Hawks have won 11 regular-season conference titles in the last 19 seasons.
Bucknell created some good scoring opportunities early in the match, but Coastal Athletic Conference Preseason Player of the Year Summer Reimet got Monmouth on the board first on the half-hour mark with a well-placed header inside the right post off Marie Bogue's corner kick.
Down a goal at the half, the Bison came out flying at the start of the second. Henna Andican's shot that was ticketed for the top left corner had to be tipped over the bar by goalkeeper Tallulah Miller. On Riley Hayes' ensuing corner kick, Traynor snuck her header through a defender and the keeper, giving the senior center back her first career tally.
Monmouth went right back ahead in the 61st minute, when Clara Ford's ball in from the right side was deflected home by Bogue.
Bucknell has endured some horrible post luck so far this season, and it continued in this one as Katie Connell struck the woodwork twice in the final 16 minutes. In the 74th minute, Connell bent in a lefty curler that hit the left post and caromed back to the center of the area. Andican passed back to Caitlyn Scott, whose attempt sailed over the bar.
With just four minutes to play, Howard made a nice turn at the top of the box and found Connell all alone on the left side of the area, but Connell's shot ricocheted off the left post and then into the crossbar.
Bucknell did find that equalizer inside three minutes to go in the match. From just in front of her own bench, Andican whipped in a ball between two defenders, Howard sprang free with a great first touch and slipped a shot inside the left post.
The Bison had a chance to win it with a minute to go when Gaby Parker got a half-step on her defender, but her contested shot went wide. Moments later the Hawks stole the match when Lavrich caught Bison keeper Jess Benattar off her line and lofted a 40-yard shot into the back of the net.
Bucknell outshot Monmouth 13-8 in the wild second half and 17-16 for the match. Benattar tallied six saves, while Miller had three for the Hawks.
Bucknell continues its three-game home stretch on Sunday against FDU at 1 p.m.
POSTGAME HIGHLIGHTS AND COMMENTS WITH COACH KELLY COOK:
Team Stats
Summer Reimet (1)
Assisted By: Marie Bogue
GOAL by MONM Reimet, Summer Assist by Bogue, Marie.
29:53
Reilly Traynor (1)
Assisted By: Riley Hayes
GOAL by BUCK Traynor, Reilly Assist by Hayes, Riley.
52:13
Marie Bogue (1)
Assisted By: Clara Ford
GOAL by MONM Bogue, Marie Assist by Ford, Clara.
60:26
Dani Howard (1)
Assisted By: Henna Andican
GOAL by BUCK Howard, Dani Assist by Andican, Henna.
87:19
Ashley Lavrich (2)
Assisted By: Summer Reimet
GOAL by MONM Lavrich, Ashley Assist by Reimet, Summer.
89:38
