Bucknell University Athletics
Saturday, September 19
Lewisburg, Pa.
1 p.m.
Bucknell University
vs
Lehigh
Photo by: Steven Schoenfelder
McFarland Claims IWSOC National Save of the Week, Bison Open Patriot League Play Saturday vs. Lehigh
9/17/2026 1:53:00 PM | Women's Soccer
LEWISBURG, Pa. – Freshman goalkeeper Sarah McFarland's heroic 89th-minute save against No. 23 Villanova has been cited as the Intercollegiate Women's Soccer Organization for Coaches (IWSOC) Save of the Week. McFarland's diving stop in the game's final moments – her eighth save of the day – cemented a clean sheet against the nation's second-highest scoring team at the time. McFarland's play won out over four other national finalists in a fan vote at IWSOC.org.
Lehigh (0-6-1, 0-0-0 PL) at Bucknell (3-5-1, 0-0-0 PL)
When: Saturday, Sept. 19, 3 p.m.
Where: Emmitt Field at Holmes Stadium, Lewisburg, Pa.
Streaming: ESPN+
Live Stats: BucknellBison.com
About the Bison
Lehigh (0-6-1, 0-0-0 PL) at Bucknell (3-5-1, 0-0-0 PL)
When: Saturday, Sept. 19, 3 p.m.
Where: Emmitt Field at Holmes Stadium, Lewisburg, Pa.
Streaming: ESPN+
Live Stats: BucknellBison.com
About the Bison
- Bucknell and Lehigh get together at Emmitt Field on Saturday on the opening weekend of Patriot League women's soccer action. This is one of four Saturday fixtures along with Navy at Boston University, American at Army, and Lafayette at Colgate. Loyola visits Holy Cross on Sunday to wrap up the first session.
- The Bison go into league play well-rested and feeling better about themselves after a hard-fought-scoreless draw at No. 23 Villanova last Thursday. After a 3-1 start, Bucknell dropped four straight against tough competition before battling the unbeaten Wildcats to a stalemate. Villanova came into that game outscoring opponents 23-0 on the season. They ranked first nationally in scoring defense and second in scoring offense, but the Bison kept a clean sheet thanks to eight saves from freshman goalkeeper Sarah McFarland and some determined defending from the back line.
- McFarland swept the Patriot League Goalkeeper and Rookie of the Week awards on Monday, and freshman outside back Clare Nemsick was named the PL Defender of the Week. McFarland was also named to the TopDrawerSoccer Team of the Week, and her spectacular diving save in the 89th minute was selected as the IWOC Save of the Week.
- Bucknell enters league play ranked third in the Patriot League in goals per game (1.56) and fifth in goals against (1.44).
- Bucknell's 14 goals have come from nine different players, and 15 players have registered a point or an assist so far. Freshman Ingrid Murphy leads the way with seven points on three goals and an assist. She tallied the lone goal in a 1-0 win at Montana in the season opener and then logged a brace in a 4-0 win over La Salle.
- Bucknell's freshman class has made an immediate impact. Murphy, goalkeeper Sarah McFarland, and outside back Clare Nemsick have started every game, and Tennessee Murphy (no relation to Ingrid) scored goals in her first two games off the bench after missing the first two contests due to injury. Tennessee Murphy became the first Bison to score in her first two career games since Jackie Ham tallied against Hofstra and Monmouth to start the 2014 season.
- Gaby Parker is second in the Patriot League in assists with three, and she tallied her first goal of the season against Mount St. Mary's. Parker registered three goals and two assists as a freshman in 2025. Her 23 total shots are second-most in the league.
- Preseason All-Patriot League selection Katie Connell scored her first goal of the season to put the Bison in front early against La Salle. Connell, whose twin sister Bella comes off the bench in the midfield, is the team's top returning scorer after posting five goals and two assists a year ago.
- The Mount St. Mary's win was career victory No. 100 for head coach Kelly Cook, who is now in her 12th season on the Bison sideline. Six of her previous 11 have resulted in a Patriot League regular-season or tournament championship. With a 101-76-34 career record, Cook is Bucknell's winningest women's soccer coach.
- Like Bucknell, the Mountain Hawks have nothing but Patriot League games left for the duration of the regular season. Lehigh struggled in non-league play, finishing 0-6-1 while getting outscored 23-4.
- Aminah Baruwa, Esther Brossard, Tori Okorodudu, and Lola Wojciechowski have accounted for Lehigh's goals thus far, and Elliot Forney, Summer Hill, and Rylie Mischella all have assists.
- Colorado transfer Chloe Zipprich has played every minute in goal and has tallied 30 saves.
- Lehigh's draw was a 2-2 verdict at Stony Brook on Sept. 6. Down 2-1 in the second half, Okorodudu scored the equalizer in the 64th minute. The Seawolves are still unbeaten on the season at 3-0-4, including wins over Harvard and Penn and a draw with UConn.
- Bucknell holds a 21-13-5 lead in a series that dates back to 1991. The Bison are unbeaten (5-0-2) in the last seven matchups, including 2-0 results in each of the last two seasons.
- The two teams have met four times in the Patriot League Tournament, starting with Bucknell's win in a penalty kick shootout in the 2005 semifinals. The Bison came back two days later to beat Army in 3-1 in the championship match. Lehigh won postseason clashes in the 2010 semifinals (1-0) and the 2018 quarterfinals (2-1 OT), and Bucknell won 2-0 in the 2021 quarters on the way to winning the league title.
- Katie Connell and Gaby Parker scored first-half goals in Bucknell's 2-0 win in Bethlehem last season. Connell's goal came from the penalty spot after Dani Howard was taken down in the box in the 12th minute. Parker scored 20 minutes later after a takeaway from Louisa Thomsen near midfield.
- The last meeting at Emmitt Field came in the final game of the 2024 regular season, and the Bison clinched the Patriot League regular-season title with the 2-0 victory. Paige Temple and Kelley Francis provided the goals in the opening half-hour.
- Riley Hayes scored a memorable first career goal as a freshman against Lehigh. It was a late game-winner in Bucknell's 2-1 victory in Bethlehem in 2023. The Bison turned around a 1-0 deficit with goals from Henna Andican in the 55th minute and Hayes in the 72nd.
- Bucknell is home again next Saturday, Sept. 26 against Holy Cross at 2 p.m. That game will follow the Bison field hockey team's 11 a.m. matchup with Boston University next door at Graham Field.
Players Mentioned
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/ Women's SoccerFriday, September 18
Thursday, September 17
Thursday, September 17
Tuesday, September 15