Terriers Fall in Overtime to Bucknell, 2-1, in PL Title Game

Saturday, April 24

Boston, MA

2 PM

Boston University

(5-1)

Bucknell (PL Final)

(5-3)

Bucknell

Boston University

Photo by: Meg Kelly

Terriers Fall in Overtime to Bucknell, 2-1, in PL Title Game

April 24, 2021 | Field Hockey

Box Score Highlights Box Score Coach Starr Postgame

BOSTON - Senior Kathryn Scheerer scored her fifth goal of the season, but Bucknell scored the final two goals of the contest, including the overtime-winner, to defeat the Boston University field hockey team, 2-1, and claim the Patriot League title on Saturday afternoon at New Balance Field.

It was a valiant effort for a BU squad that was missing seven players, including five starters and both goalkeepers, due to health and safety measures from Covid protocols.

Top-seeded BU (5-1) took a 1-0 lead thanks to Scheerer's goal with 1.2 ticks to go in the third quarter, but third-seeded Bucknell (5-3) evened the score with 5:48 remaining in regulation and then tallied the winner with 2:31 to play in the first overtime. This was Bucknell's first Patriot League title while the Terriers were vying for their fifth conference crown.

Junior Rebecca Janes assisted on Scheerer's goal to record her eighth point of the tournament, one shy of the conference record. Janes recorded three goals and one assist in Thursday's semifinal win over Holy Cross.

Freshman Pili Alvarez, normally a striker, started at goalkeeper on Saturday for the shorthanded Terriers and made three saves in an incredible effort.

HOW IT HAPPENED

The first half proved to be a defensive battle, with neither team recording a shot until the 26th minute.
Bucknell had four consecutive penalty corners late in the half, but the Terriers blocked two shots before Alvarez made her first save of the day on the fourth and final corner of that stretch.
The Terriers earned three straight corners of their own less than three minutes into the third quarter, but Clara McCormick made the one save required of her.
Alvarez then saved a shot from just inside the top of the circle to keep the game scoreless.
Bucknell earned three more corners late in third frame, but the Terriers successfully defended them.
Sophomore Gianna Pantaleo nearly scored a highlight-reel goal with 1:45 to play in the third when she corralled a lofted pass from Scheerer, stickhandled past a Bucknell defender and got a shot on target, but McCormick kicked the chance aside.
BU finally broke through off a corner with 1.2 seconds remaining in the third quarter. Scheerer corralled the insert from Janes and blasted a shot past McCormick.
The Bison had a player advantage just 4:35 into the fourth quarter, but the Terriers did not allow a single shot attempt during that two-minute stretch.
Senior Shannon Ma came up with a fantastic defensive save with 6:15 remaining in regulation. After a Bucknell corner, Ma dove towards the left post and took a ball off the goal line before it could cross into the cage.
The Bison evened the score with 5:48 on the clock off their 11th corner of the contest.
BU received a green card with 4:16 to play in the first overtime and the Bison eventually earned three corners during that penalty, ending the game on their final one.

GAME NOTES

Janes, Scheerer and Alexis Pettisani were all named to the Patriot League All-Tournament Team.
Kaelyn Long scored the overtime winner and was selected as the tournament MVP.
Bucknell earned 14 corners to five for the Terriers, whose corner defense was impressive throughout the game.
BU had three shots on cage while the Bison landed five shots on goal.
Scheerer (5g, 1a) and Janes (4g, 3a) each finished the season with a team-high 11 points.
Ma became the third Terrier this season to earn a defensive save; Pettisani and sophomore Rachel Borzymowski had two apiece this year.