Oct. 2, 2011

Box Score

LEWISBURG, Pa. - Villanova (5-6, 1-1) scored the first goal of the game late in the first half, but Bucknell (4-6) evened the score less than a minute later and scored the game winner on a penalty shot early in the second half to take home the 2-1 victory. It was Bucknell's first victory in the matchup between the two schools since 2006.

On a chilly afternoon, both the Wildcats and Bison struggled to find offensive rhythm throughout most of the first half as the defense dominated. However, the Wildcats broke through first as their most dominant offensive force, freshman Jessica Swoboda (Hanover Township, Pa.), tucked one past the goaltender from the left side for her team-leading sixth goal fo the year in the 31st minute. Freshman Leah High (Green Lane, Pa.) provided the assist on the play, the first of her career.

The Bison responded quickly after being shut down for the entire first half as Leigh Hillman scored her first goal of the year off a penalty corner and the teams went into the locker room tied 1-1. Each team tallied just four shots a piece in the half as the defenses were very strong.

Bucknell came out very strong in the second half and quickly scored the go-ahead goal. Rachel Misko took a penalty stroke less than four minutes into the second half and fired it into the upper left corner past senior Megan Goelz (Pennsbury, Pa.) for the 2-1 Bison lead. Goelz finished with two saves on the day.

From that point on, the Bucknell defense did not allow the Wildcats to get off any clean shots on net. The Wildcat defense was just as strong in protecting their own net, but the Wildcats were unable to net the equalizer as Bucknell took the non-conference contest 2-1.

Villanova will look to bounce back from this two game losing skid when they travel to State College to take on Penn State.