Bad Bounce Spills Bucknell in 1-0 Loss to American

Friday, September 18

Lewisburg, Pa.

5 p.m.

Bucknell University

(4-2, 0-1)

American

(4-3, 1-0)

Team	1	2	3	4	Final F
American	0	0	0	1	1
Bucknell	0	0	0	0	0

Photo by: Steven Schoenfelder

Bad Bounce Spills Bucknell in 1-0 Loss to American

9/18/2026 7:22:00 PM | Field Hockey

Box Score

LEWISBURG, Pa.-

The race isn't always to the fastest or the strongest, but sometimes to the one blessed by Lady Luck. Bucknell (4-2, 0-1 Patriot League) felt the brush aside of her fickle affections in Friday night's 1-0 heartbreaker to American (4-3, 1-0 Patriot League). The Eagles had not lost a conference game since 2022 and kept their streak intact when a fortuitous bounce reverberated their way with less than a minute remaining and denied the Bison the opportunity of starting 1-0 in league play.

With 39 seconds remaining before overtime, Sophie Willemse, Bucknell's old nemesis stationed way beyond the shooting circle's borders, sent a missile screaming into the crowded circle. Bison goalkeeper Sarah Althouse assumed the sphere might have struck an American stick, rendering it a legal goal. She attempted to usher the ball aside. Instead, the ball spun back to the mouth of the goal. Jill DuVarney could not have scored an easier goal. She merely had to tap the ball, and American led 1-0.

Bucknell tried to pull out some amazing heroics, but American's defense and an unkind whistle turned away opportunity.

For 59 minutes, the two teams waged an impressive defensive war. Opportunities were slim to nonexistent. American shot 11 times to Bucknell's six and generated seven penalty corners to the Bison's four. Althouse recorded four saves and several times ventured off her line to prevent any credible shot attempts. American's defense suffocated Bucknell's shooters so much that goalkeeper Teagan Harmon did not have to record a save.

American had the best of play in the first half, outshooting Bucknell 9-0. Althouse recorded all four of her saves during the second period, displaying a fortress-like approach to protecting the cage.

Bucknell flipped the switch in the second half and played more aggressively and decisively. The Bison's pressure led to six shots and four penalty corners, but they couldn't find the all-important goal.

The Bison head to Kent State on Sunday, looking to return to the win column.