LEWISBURG, Pa. – Despite leading by as many as two goals in its Bucknell Invitational finale, a Bucknell penalty goal in the final minute handed Villanova back-to-back losses on the weekend, falling 10-9 on Sunday at the McKinney Natatorium.
Villanova (2-6) went into the final frame down by two and outscored Bucknell (3-9) 3-2 in the period.
Sara Withers was whistled for a penalty with 34 seconds remaining. That gave Bucknell the chance it needed to take the lead with Boati Motau connecting on the five-meter attempt.
Isabel Foley,
Ella Mattocks and
Emily McKenzie combined for six goals, all scoring a pair of goals each.
Stella Byles led the team with three assists while
Emily Morrissey tallied three steals.
Abigail Shelby started in net, making six saves in the first half.
Gracin Kerry added four saves in the second half.
Allie Hansen started the scoring with an even strength goal nearly two minutes in. After a Bucknell answer, McKenzie and Mattocks scored back-to-back goals to grab a 3-1 lead with just under a minute left in the first period. The Bison answered with 41 seconds remaining, making it a 3-2 game after eight minutes.
Bucknell went on a 3-0 scoring run in the second, taking a 5-3 lead by the 4:01 mark. Foley ended the scoring streak with 25 seconds left in the first half, cutting into the lead to get Villanova back with one at the break, 5-4.
McKenzie opened the third period with a goal to level the game, 5-5. The Bison netted a pair of goals early 40 seconds apart to extend their lead to 7-5. Mattocks got a goal back with 2:50 left in the period to cut the deficit back to one, but Bucknell answered shortly after, sending the game to the fourth at 8-6.
It took 30 seconds into the fourth for Foley to get Villanova back within one, scoring on an even strength goal for her second goal of the day. The scoring continued for the 'Cats with just over five minutes to play as Morrissey tied it up, 8-8. Motau netted a chance with 2:50 left in the game to push Bucknell back ahead. Withers leveled the game again at 9-9 with 48 seconds remaining before she was whistled for the finalizing penalty.
Motau led Bucknell with five goals, three of those coming in the third period.
Villanova faces nearly a two-week layoff before it gets back to action at the Princeton Invitational. That two-day event starts on Feb. 25.
