Bucknell University denied the AU field hockey team’s quest for a ninth straight Patriot League Tournament Championship, as the fourth-seeded Bison defeated the top-seeded Eagles 3-2 in the PL semifinals Nov. 4 at Jacobs Field.
Leigh Hillman scored twice in the first half and Maggie Murphy pushed across the game-winning goal for the Bison (8-12, 3-2 PL), with just over three minutes remaining. Jenn Bradley and Jaclyn Anspach helped the Eagles (9-8, 4-1 PL) erase a 2-0 halftime deficit with two scores in the second frame.
“Pure disappointment,” AU Head Coach Steve Jennings said. “We worked really hard, and we sort of weren’t able to get over the hump.”
The victory sent the Bison to their first Patriot League Championship game since 2008, but they couldn’t pull off a second straight upset and lost 3-1 to Lafayette College.
Meanwhile, the loss marks a bitter end to the season for AU. The Eagles began the season nationally ranked at No. 10 and were looking to continue their dominance atop the PL.
“Each year is its own year,” Jennings said. “I think it’s been an incredible legacy that the program has been able to accomplish.”
The Bison led the game for the majority of the contest courtesy of two first-half goals from Hillman that came in a span of five minutes.
Hillman tallied the afternoon’s first score with 12 minutes remaining in the first half, as her rebound at the right post off a penalty corner found the back of the cage. Five minutes later, the sophomore forward netted her second goal to put Bucknell up 2-0.
The Bison held the 2-0 lead for the remainder of the first stanza, entering halftime 35 minutes away from ending the Eagles’ reign atop the conference. But AU wouldn’t go quietly.
Jenn Bradley put the Eagles on the board nine minutes into the second half on a shot from the top of the circle that cut the Bucknell lead in half.
Then with less than 10 minutes to play, Anspach beat Bucknell goalkeeper Erica Perrine to tie the game at two and seemingly swing the momentum firmly onto the AU side.
“It felt good to get the equalizer, but that’s only the halfway point at that juncture,” Jennings said.
The Bison had taken a two-goal advantage into halftime, but now found themselves with the game slipping away on the road. But Bucknell maintained its composure and refused to wilt at a time when it seemed inevitable that the Eagles would complete their comeback.
Murphy’s game-winner came off assists from Mallory Smith and Marci Richard and put the Bison up 3-2 with 3:10 left to play. The Eagles couldn’t convert on a penalty corner in the game’s waning seconds, and Bucknell was able to complete the upset and claim its first ever win at Jacobs Field.
Perrine made eight saves in goal, while Stephanie Burry posted three for the Eagles. AU held an advantage in both shots (22-10) and penalty corners (9-7) for the game.
No. 2 Lafayette went on to defeat Bucknell 3-1 in the Patriot League Tournament Championship finals.
