VILLANOVA, Pa. – Villanova could not answer a 35
th minute goal by Bucknell, falling to the Bison 1-0 on Thursday at Higgins Soccer Complex.
The loss marks three consecutive for Villanova (3-4) and was the first loss against Bucknell (4-2-1) in the series, moving the series record to 4-1-2 in favor of the 'Cats.
Villanova outshot the Bison 12-8 in the loss with a 6-3 advantage for shots on goal.
Gabby Koluch and
Susanna Soderman led the team with three shots each while Koluch landed all three of hers on frame. Goalkeeper
Hannah Dickinson moves to 3-4 with the loss, making a pair of saves.
"The first 15 minutes of the game, we should've had two goals easily," head coach
Samar Azem said. "You know, I think we came into this unprepared mentally to compete and, you know, in moments we had control of the game to start. We were too complacent and so then we give up a goal. I mean, well done to them, but a goal from 25 yards out should just never happen. We go into the half saying our standard just has to be better and we want to do a better job. Overall, today was not a good day for us. Credit to Bucknell. They're a fantastic team. They played together, they worked hard, but we let today get away from us."
Teresa Deda scored the lone goal of the contest with a rocket in the 35
th minute. She picked up a redirect that hit off of a Wildcat and sent a booted a shot from 25 yards out that went past a diving Dickinson and into the back left of the net to make it 1-0 Bucknell.
By the halftime break, Villanova had landed two of its six shot attempts on frame, one of those coming from Koluch in the 39
th minute to level the contest but it was saved by Bucknell's Jess Benattar.
Villanova's best chance to even the contest came in the 67
th minute when a foul in the box awarded the 'Cats a penalty kick. Koluch lined up for the shot but her chance was saved near the right post by Benattar.
Alex Little and Koluch each had chances down the stretch, but those were also collected by Benattar.
Deda led all players with five shots, three of those on goal. Benattar made six saves.
Villanova now embarks on a road trip that will span three contests over the next weeks, starting with a trip to Cornell on Sunday. Action from Berman Field is set to begin at 1 p.m.
