Thursday, September 4
Loretto, Pa.
4 p.m.
Bucknell University
2-4-0, 0-0-0
4
at
1
Saint Francis
0-4-1, 0-0-0
1
2
F
Bucknell
1
3
4
Saint Francis
0
1
1
Photo by: Steven Schoenfelder
Andican Scores a Pair in Women’s Soccer's 4-1 Win at Saint Francis
9/4/2025 7:00:00 PM | Women's Soccer
LORETTO, Pa. – Henna Andican recorded her first career two-goal game, and Katie Connell and Gaby Parker each tallied a goal and an assist to lead the Bucknell women's soccer team to a dominant 4-1 win over Saint Francis on Thursday afternoon at the Stokes Soccerplex. The Bison outshot the Red Flash 30-3 and improved to 2-4 on the season heading into a road test at Pittsburgh on Sunday.
Saint Francis (0-4-1) goalkeeper Emma Sawich finished with 16 saves, and she had the visitors a bit frustrated throughout most of the first half. The Bison were on the front foot right from the opening touch, with Connell and Andican putting shots on target in the first three minutes. By the 14th minute, Sawich already had five saves.
Louisa Thomsen put a shot just over the bar from the center of the box, and a few minutes later Thomsen's cracking header off a corner kick was turned aside by Sawich at the right post. The freshman Parker thought she had scored her first career goal at the half-hour mark, but she was deemed to be a fraction offside. Parker later skirted the left post on a breakaway attempt after collecting a nice ball over the top from Bella Connell.
Twin sister Katie Connell finally solved Sawich with just 40 seconds remaining before halftime. Connell took a long lead pass from Dani Howard, eluded three defenders and then exploded down the right channel before depositing a shot into the left side netting.
Once the ice was broken, the goals just kept coming as the Bison scored three more in a span of less than 14 minutes early in the second half.
Parker, who was a menace all day after coming on as a substitute, opened her collegiate account with a well-earned goal in the 50th minute. Howard set the play in motion by winning a 50-50 ball at midfield and then playing Andican down the right flank. Andican squared a pass for Katie Connell in the center of the area, Connell fought off a defender and then slipped a pass to Parker for a one-time finish at the edge of the 6-yard box.
Just five minutes later it was 3-0 after Thomsen played a perfectly weighted through ball ahead to Andican, who got in behind and finished past the charging goalkeeper. Andican made it a double in the 64th minute. Parker galloped through acres of space along the left flank, drew a defender and then fed Andican, who was all alone in the center of the box.
Andican's first career brace gives her a team-high four goals on the season and 14 in her career.
"We knew coming in that we were likely going to have a lot of opportunities in the attacking third, and we worked hard in practice on getting the ball into wide areas and finishing those crosses," said head coach Kelly Cook. "Unfortunately we missed on a lot of early chances, but Katie Connell's goal gave us a huge lift going into halftime up a goal."
Cook used 14 players off the bench, and the reserve unit generated some quality chances as well. Ally Flaherty just missed the far post from the left side of the area, and Bella Connell was robbed by Sawich on a shot ticketed for the top right corner.
Raine Korpics accounted for all three of the Red Flash's shot attempts, and not long after she put one off the post, she cashed in on a beautiful free kick from 25 yards out. Korpics bent her shot off the top right post and in for her first goal of the season.
Reese Dolan made her third straight start in goal for the Bison and finished with two saves. The only field player to play all 90 minutes was center back Julia Palitti. None of the other starters were needed for more than 68 minutes, as they were able to grab a bit of extra rest heading into Sunday's matchup at Pitt.
The Panthers carried a 4-2 record into a Thursday evening home match with Cincinnati. Sunday's fixture gets underway at 1 p.m. at Ambrose Urbanic Field and can be seen on ACC Network Extra.
Saint Francis (0-4-1) goalkeeper Emma Sawich finished with 16 saves, and she had the visitors a bit frustrated throughout most of the first half. The Bison were on the front foot right from the opening touch, with Connell and Andican putting shots on target in the first three minutes. By the 14th minute, Sawich already had five saves.
Louisa Thomsen put a shot just over the bar from the center of the box, and a few minutes later Thomsen's cracking header off a corner kick was turned aside by Sawich at the right post. The freshman Parker thought she had scored her first career goal at the half-hour mark, but she was deemed to be a fraction offside. Parker later skirted the left post on a breakaway attempt after collecting a nice ball over the top from Bella Connell.
Twin sister Katie Connell finally solved Sawich with just 40 seconds remaining before halftime. Connell took a long lead pass from Dani Howard, eluded three defenders and then exploded down the right channel before depositing a shot into the left side netting.
Check out Katie Connell taking a stroll through the back line for the game's opening tally! #rayBucknell
— Bucknell Women's Soccer (@Bucknell_WSOC) September 4, 2025
Watch live: https://t.co/uweFCmmdFB pic.twitter.com/0sxMMfLxcH
Once the ice was broken, the goals just kept coming as the Bison scored three more in a span of less than 14 minutes early in the second half.
Parker, who was a menace all day after coming on as a substitute, opened her collegiate account with a well-earned goal in the 50th minute. Howard set the play in motion by winning a 50-50 ball at midfield and then playing Andican down the right flank. Andican squared a pass for Katie Connell in the center of the area, Connell fought off a defender and then slipped a pass to Parker for a one-time finish at the edge of the 6-yard box.
First of many for Gaby Parker! #rayBucknell
— Bucknell Women's Soccer (@Bucknell_WSOC) September 4, 2025
Watch: https://t.co/uweFCmmdFB pic.twitter.com/p9pNNyuKt3
Just five minutes later it was 3-0 after Thomsen played a perfectly weighted through ball ahead to Andican, who got in behind and finished past the charging goalkeeper. Andican made it a double in the 64th minute. Parker galloped through acres of space along the left flank, drew a defender and then fed Andican, who was all alone in the center of the box.
Andican's first career brace gives her a team-high four goals on the season and 14 in her career.
"We knew coming in that we were likely going to have a lot of opportunities in the attacking third, and we worked hard in practice on getting the ball into wide areas and finishing those crosses," said head coach Kelly Cook. "Unfortunately we missed on a lot of early chances, but Katie Connell's goal gave us a huge lift going into halftime up a goal."
Cook used 14 players off the bench, and the reserve unit generated some quality chances as well. Ally Flaherty just missed the far post from the left side of the area, and Bella Connell was robbed by Sawich on a shot ticketed for the top right corner.
Raine Korpics accounted for all three of the Red Flash's shot attempts, and not long after she put one off the post, she cashed in on a beautiful free kick from 25 yards out. Korpics bent her shot off the top right post and in for her first goal of the season.
Reese Dolan made her third straight start in goal for the Bison and finished with two saves. The only field player to play all 90 minutes was center back Julia Palitti. None of the other starters were needed for more than 68 minutes, as they were able to grab a bit of extra rest heading into Sunday's matchup at Pitt.
The Panthers carried a 4-2 record into a Thursday evening home match with Cincinnati. Sunday's fixture gets underway at 1 p.m. at Ambrose Urbanic Field and can be seen on ACC Network Extra.
Team Stats
BUCK
Flash
Goals
4
1
Shots
30
3
Shots on Goal
20
3
Saves
2
16
Corners
6
1
Fouls
10
4
Scoring Plays
Katie Connell (2)
Assisted By: Dani Howard
GOAL by BUCK Connell, Katie Assist by Howard, Dani.
44:18
Gaby Parker (1)
Assisted By: Katie Connell
GOAL by BUCK Parker, Gaby Assist by Connell, Katie.
49:40
Henna Andican (4)
Assisted By: Louisa Thomsen
GOAL by BUCK Andican, Henna Assist by Thomsen, Louisa.
54:54
Henna Andican (4)
Assisted By: Gaby Parker
GOAL by BUCK Andican, Henna Assist by Parker, Gaby.
63:21
Raine Korpics (1)
GOAL by Flash Korpics, Raine.
76:48
Game Leaders
Players
Shots
6
SOG
5
Goals
2
Assists
0
Shots
5
SOG
5
Goals
1
Assists
1
fwd
Shots
4
SOG
2
Goals
1
Assists
1
Shots
2
SOG
1
Goals
0
Assists
1
Players Mentioned
F
/ Women's Soccer
M
/ Women's SoccerF
/ Women's Soccer
GK
/ Women's Soccer
F
/ Women's Soccer
M
/ Women's Soccer
D
/ Women's SoccerF
/ Women's SoccerM
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