Ingrid Murphy Scores First Career Goal as Women’s Soccer Debuts with 1-0 Win at Montana

Thursday, August 13

Missoula, Mont.

7 p.m. ET | 5 p.m. MT

Bucknell University

1-0-0, 0-0-0

Montana

0-1-0, 0-0-0

Team	1	2	Final F
Bucknell	1	0	1
Montana	0	0	0

Photo by: Ryan Brennecke

Ingrid Murphy Scores First Career Goal as Women’s Soccer Debuts with 1-0 Win at Montana

8/13/2026 10:07:00 PM | Women's Soccer

Box Score Photo Gallery

MISSOULA, Mont. – Freshman Ingrid Murphy scored her first collegiate goal in the 15th minute, and it held up as the game-winner thanks to a suffocating second-half defensive effort as the Bucknell women's soccer team downed defending Big Sky Conference champion Montana 1-0 on Thursday night at South Campus Stadium.

In their first-ever trip to Montana, the Bison delivered a rare home loss for the Grizzlies, who were 18-1-5 over the previous two seasons and 42-8-13 in the previous seven years on home soil.

While Montana returned only one starter from last season, the Bison brought back nine, although three freshmen featured in Kelly Cook's opening-night lineup. One of those was Murphy, and the Harrison, N.Y., product put her new team on the front foot in the early stages.

After a throw-in from the left touch line, Gaby Parker flicked a ball into the path of Murphy, who slotted home a low shot just inside the left post from the top of the box.

Some first-half 🎥 feat. Ingrid Murphy's goal. #rayBucknell 🔶🔷🦬 pic.twitter.com/CVB8IAmXYs
— Bucknell Womens Soccer (@BucknellWSoccer) August 14, 2026

Freshman goalkeeper Sarah McFarland was called into action about two minutes later, keeping it 1-0 with a two-save flurry. She stopped Lucie Rokos' initial attempt and then snuffed out Ellen Hampton's point-blank try on the rebound.

Those would be Montana's only two shots on target all night, as the Bison limited the Grizzlies to only five total shots in the match. Bucknell's back line was rock solid all night, anchored by center backs Julia Palitti and Emma Gavin along with a strong performance from holding center midfielder Louisa Thomsen. Freshman Clare Nemsick also made her first career start and saw time at both outside back positions, and Leah DeLaurentiis came off the bench and played well over the final 66 minutes.

Montana's only decent look in the last hour of the match was a Grace Morton shot from distance that skimmed the top of the crossbar in the 88th minute.

Meanwhile, Bucknell generated numerous chances for an insurance marker. Murphy nearly had two more, but her free kick was knocked aside by a diving Avery Heeb in the 38th minute, and she smashed one off the left post in the 51st.

Bella Connell went just over the bar after a nice build-up from the reserve unit late in the first half, and in the last 20 minutes Parker, Kenice Wilson, and Riley Hayes also had good looks at goal.

"I was very happy with the effort tonight," said Cook, who earned her 99th career win at Bucknell. "I thought it was a strong performance from the whole group, and I was glad to see them get a well-deserved shutout. We have seen a ton of improvement from the start of preseason up until now, and tonight we saw a full 90-minute performance with no lulls. We struggled with that at times last year, and we have been determined to stay switched on for 90 minutes."

Bucknell outshot Montana 14-5 and led 5-2 in corner kicks. Both goalkeepers made two saves.

Bucknell's western road trip continues on Sunday with a first-ever clash with Eastern Washington. The Bison and Eagles get going at 4 p.m. Eastern/1 p.m. Pacific in Cheney, Wash.