BOSTON, Mass. – Freshman Celia Braun came off the bench and recorded a career-high eight saves, but No. 4 Bucknell overcame the top-seeded Terriers (11-6-3, 6-1-2 PL) to win the 2021 Patriot League Championship on Sunday afternoon at Nickerson Field.
 
The Bison (11-7-3, 5-2-2 PL) capture their fifth Patriot League title in program history, and earn the league's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.
 
After the game, juniors Gretchen Bennett, Marli Rajacich, and Julianna Stureman were named to the Patriot League All-Tournament Team.
 
Both sides were locked in a scoreless draw until the 75th minute. Bucknell earned a corner kick, and Teresa Deda inserted the ball towards the far post. The end result was an own goal against BU, and the lone score of the match.
 
Braun entered in just the second minute to replace an injured Bennett, and made four saves in each frame, including a leaping denial in the 53rd minute to keep the game scoreless. The Maryland native played a season-best 88:46 between the posts.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• On the free kick that led to BU's goalkeeper switch 1:14 in, Deda launched the first shot of the game, leading to Braun's first save.
• In the ninth minute, Rajacich got open inside the box for a left-footed kick that ricocheted off the crossbar. Classmate Geovanna Pereira had a chance a minute later, but her shot rolled wide left.
• Past the midway point of the first half, the Terriers got their first shot on goal, a redirect from sophomore Abigail McNulty that Bucknell keeper Jenna Hall swallowed up.
• The Bison ended the first half with multiple opportunities, including the game's first corner kick in the 38th minute and two attempts from Deda that Braun saved.
• Sophomore Kiley Bertos got the Terriers' first shot on target of the second half in the 55th minute, but Hall made the save.
• Senior Margaret Berry and Stureman both got within 20 yards of the goal to place shots after the 60th minute, but the former's chance sailed wide right, while Stureman's bent left.
• Bucknell earned their corner that led to the goal after Deda's shot was blocked.
• In the 82nd minute, freshman Morgan Fagan sped down the right wing towards the end line and fired a shot that a Bison defender blocked. BU earned a corner, but could not get an opportunity for a shot.
• The Terriers had three shots blocked in the final four minutes.

GAME NOTES

• Bucknell had the advantage in shots 15-12, including a 9-4 edge in shots on goal.
• The Bison also had a 5-1 edge in corner kicks, including four in the second half.
• McNulty paced BU with four shots, three of which were on goal. Deda had a game-high nine shots, including five on target.
• The Terriers played in their sixth Patriot League championship game in nine seasons as a league member, and hosted the title match for the third time.
• Since 2013, BU and Bucknell have combined to win seven of the nine Patriot League championships.
• The All-Tournament Team recognition was the first in each of Bennett's, Rajacich's, and Stureman's careers.
• BU went 11-6-3, winning the Patriot League regular season with a 6-1-2 league record.