The American University women’s soccer team (4-3-2) fell to the Bucknell Bison (6-3-2) 3-1 on Sept. 25, leaving the Eagles 0-2-1 in the Patriot League.
The match was American’s first in-conference home game, and the Eagles hoped to maintain their undefeated record at home. Coming off a 4-1 loss to Army, American also looked to secure their first Patriot League win.
The Eagles kicked the game off with a play into Bucknell’s half, earning them a throw-in. American moved the ball through their back line and up the field into the attacking third of the field.
Following the two-minute mark, senior forward Jennifer McGuire scored a goal for the Eagles with an assist from graduate student forward Izzy Kadzban.
The Bison responded with an offensive attack of their own, leaving American freshman goalie Addison Roemer to make the first of six saves in the half.
Sophomore midfielder Bella Miller dribbled up the sideline and attempted to turn the ball into the center of American’s offensive third for another scoring opportunity, but Bucknell’s back line stepped up to each ball entering the box.
Bucknell put three shots on net in 30 seconds in the eighth and ninth minutes, forcing Roemer to make two more saves.
The Bison’s high defensive line left the Eagles to play in their own half of the field, creating more opportunities for Bucknell. In the 11th minute, the Bison tied the game with a goal off a corner kick.
A shot into the box from Kadzban was deflected by Bucknell’s junior goalkeeper Jess Benattar before the ball was cleared back to American’s defensive line. While the Eagles’ defense prevented the Bison from gaining an advantage, American struggled to maintain possession.
In the 33rd minute, junior midfielder Avery Klingensmith took the Eagles’ first corner kick. A deflection from Benattar knocked the ball out of the box, allowing the Eagles to regroup and build a new attack.
A drop ball for the Bison halted American’s offensive progress, allowing Bucknell to bring the ball back in the Eagles’ defensive third and put a shot on net. Roemer hit the shot out before the Bison knocked the ball over the net, granting the Eagles a goal kick.
Senior forward Olivia Simmons lofted a direct kick into Bucknell’s box, yet the Bison moved the ball up the field creating a breakaway. Junior defender Eliza Fisher cleared the ball from American’s box, forcing the Bison to regenerate an attack.
The Bison closed the half with a corner kick and an additional shot on the Eagles’ goal.
At the 45-minute mark, Bucknell had recorded 16 shots and eight corners. American recorded six shots and one corner, and the score remained 1-1.
The Bison began the second half with the ball, yet the Eagles came out fighting. Roemer built an attack with a pass to Fisher who knocked the ball to junior defender Phoebe Merrigan.
Merrigan turned the ball up to Kadzban, who passed it up to sophomore forward Lailah Stewart. Though Stewart tried to get a shot off, Benattar grabbed the ball.
A corner kick by Merrigan deflected off the crossbar to give Bucknell a goal kick, yet a series of passes between McGuire, Miller and Kadzban put the Eagles at the top of the box.
As the Bison’s defense knocked the ball to the Eagles’ back line, both teams continued to knock the ball back-and-forth in the middle of the field.
Sophomore defender Bella Vozar received a yellow card at the one hour mark, granting Bucknell a free kick that floated over the net. Senior defender Amélie Kovacevic turned a ball up the line to begin another offensive build, yet Bucknell responded with their own attack, halted by a tackle from Vozar.
With 20 minutes remaining in the game, the Eagles had not taken a shot since the 19-minute mark of the first half.
In the 76th minute, Bucknell senior forward Kelley Francis faced Roemer in a one-on-one and slid a ball in the back of the net, granting the Bison a 2-1 advantage.
The Eagles tried to respond with an attack as Vozar moved the ball up the field, but the Bison chipped another ball over Roemer in the 81st minute, giving Bucknell a 3-1 lead.
Klingensmith took a final shot from outside the box to close the game, but the ball went over the net, ending the game with a 3-1 loss for American.
At the whistle, Bucknell recorded 23 shots and 11 corners. The Eagles recorded 13 shots and three corners.
Head coach Marsha Harper said the team needed to work on exploiting the back line of other teams and creating more direct opportunities.
“The team that wins on any given day in the Patriot League is the team that’s committed to being first to the ball. Those that are disciplined in doing that, with the effort and the work rate, will walk away with a ‘W,’” Harper said.
The Eagles take on Lafayette at home on Oct. 5 and look to secure their first Patriot League victory.
This article was edited by Connor Sturniolo, Delaney Hoke and Abigail Turner. Copy editing done by Luna Jinks, Sabine Kanter-Huchting and Emma Brown
