McFarland’s 89th-Minute Save Helps Women’s Soccer Earn 0-0 Draw with No. 23 Villanova

Thursday, September 10

Villanova, Pa.

4 p.m.

Bucknell University

3-5-1, 0-0-0

Villanova

4-0-2, 0-0-0

Team	1	2	Final F
Bucknell	0	0	0
Villanova	0	0	0

Photo by: Steven Schoenfelder

McFarland’s 89th-Minute Save Helps Women’s Soccer Earn 0-0 Draw with No. 23 Villanova

9/10/2026 7:10:00 PM | Women's Soccer

Box Score

VILLANOVA, Pa. – Freshman goalkeeper Sarah McFarland made eight saves, the last a sensational diving stop on a close-range header in the 89th minute, to help the Bucknell women's soccer team keep a scoreless draw with No. 23 Villanova on Thursday afternoon at Higgins Soccer Complex.

The Wildcats (4-0-2), ranked this week in the TopDrawerSoccer national poll, came into the game with a 23-0 goal differential. They are one of three Division I teams yet to concede a goal and also entered the day ranked second nationally in scoring offense. Villanova did see more of the ball, particularly in the first half, but Bucknell (3-5-1) held strong defensively and got a big performance from McFarland in goal.

"Overall, I'm very happy with the performance today," said head coach Kelly Cook. "The whole group executed the game plan and really stepped up after some tough losses over the last two weeks. It was great to get back to our style and our mentality as we head into Patriot League play. Getting off to a good start was a priority, and then I thought we came out in the second half and played much more confidently on the ball. Villanova is a terrific team and they definitely had some chances, but we defended those chances well and Sarah was terrific when we needed her."

McFarland was called into action only 90 seconds into the match when Gabby Koluch ran onto a bouncing ball behind the back line. McFarland came off her line to block aside the shot, and then later in the half she made three tough saves on Morgan Kotch. Kotch was a menace all day with seven shots, including five on goal, in 64 minutes.

Bucknell's first shot came on the half-hour mark from Riley Hayes, forcing a save from all-star goalkeeper Hannah Dickson. That was Bucknell's only attempt of the first half, but the Bison were much brighter on the attack in the second. Katie Connell hit a hard curling shot just over the bar in the 55th minute, and in the 82nd Ashley Kozlowski put a lefty attempt on goal from the edge of the area after a beautiful seven-pass build-up.

Things got tense with 1:54 left on the clock when the referee stopped play for a VAR check for a possible Bucknell handball in the box, but no penalty was given. Just after the restart, Avrie Nelson sent in a cross from the left side of the area, and Kaydee Amorosa's header was turned aside by a diving McFarland. Bucknell defended the ensuing corner kick, Villanova's 11th of the match, and was able to run out the clock.

OH MY, SARAH McFARLAND! 🧱🧱🧱

Incredible diving stop in the 89th minute keeps the game scoreless, and she finishes off an 8-save clean sheet against the No. 2 scoring offense in the nation! #rayBucknell @ESPN | @PatriotLeague | @NCAASoccer pic.twitter.com/dk1AmABdKj
— Bucknell Womens Soccer (@BucknellWSoccer) September 10, 2026

Cook noted that set-piece defending was a big part of the team's training over the last week after her team was susceptible on corner kicks in recent games. This time the Bison were first to the ball on nearly all of the 11 corner kicks.

The final shot board was 15-7 in favor of Villanova. McFarland's eight saves were a career high, and the Bison received standout 90-minute performances from backs Julia Palitti, Emma Gavin, and Clare Nemsick, along with holding midfielders Louisa Thomsen and Caitlyn Scott. The senior Scott made her first career start and was all over the field, making a number of key tackles on the ball throughout the match.

Bucknell will now have extended rest before opening up Patriot League play at home against Lehigh on Saturday, Sept. 19. That will be a 1 p.m. start at Emmitt Field at Holmes Stadium.