LEWISBURG, Pa. – Goalkeepers Celia Braun and Gretchen Bennett combined to make 11 saves between the posts, but after a scoreless 110 minutes, The Boston University women's soccer program fell to Bucknell in penalty kicks, 4-3, in the Patriot League semifinal round on Thursday evening at Emmitt Field.
 
No. 3 BU (11-8-1, 6-3 PL) and No. 2 Bucknell (8-5-5, 5-1-3 PL) combined for 32 shots, 18 of which were on target, but neither side could find the back of the net. After both teams matched one another's results in the first three penalty kick rounds, Meghan White put the Bison ahead after a Terrier miss. Despite redshirt senior Jenna Oldham burying the following attempt, Rylee Donaldson sealed the result by converting on Bennett in the fifth round.
 
Redshirt senior Amy Thompson led BU with three shots, all of which were on target. In total, seven different Terriers recorded a shoot.
 
Donaldson ripped off a game-high six shots, while all four of Teresa Deda's chances were on goal. Jenna Hall made seven saves between Bucknell's posts.
 
The Bison advance to the Patriot League championship game against No. 1 Army West Point on Sunday (Nov. 6).
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• BU generated a corner kick 46 seconds into the match, where sophomore Morgan Fagan placed a bouncing shot to Hall by the right post.
• Braun made her first save of the evening in the 15th minute, squaring up Deda's shot from the middle. Freshman Giulianna Gianino then countered with a chance inside the box that was lifted over the crossbar moments later.
• Paige Temple had a close-range attempt for the Bison in the 20th minute, but Braun was there to keep it out.
• In the 27th minute, a lead pass found its way to Thompson from 25 yards out. She turned counterclockwise for a shot that Hall collected.
• BU had two chances in the final two minutes of the half. Oldham's free kick from the center bounced into Hall's mitts, then senior Marli Rajacich turned on a ball atop the 18-yard box t coax another Hall save.
• The first shot of the second half didn't come until the 67th minute, when Petie Nassetta lofted a ball towards the net that took a high hop, forcing Bennett to leap near the goal line to keep it in play.
• The Terrier defense would proceed to block three Bison shots in the next four minutes, and turn aside four Bucknell corners.
• Donaldson threatened in the 81st minute when she stole a ball inside the Terriers' defensive end, but Bennett flicked away her opportunity near the left post.
• Thompson almost found a hole in the 85th minute when she placed a shot on net from 10 yards away, but Hall dove to her left to send it wide right of the post.
• In the 90th minute, BU couldn't capitalize on a corner kick, but sophomore Eileen Solomon cut off a Bucknell counter right before the horn to send the game to overtime.
• BU's back line weathered multiple crosses in the 103rd minute, when Bennett also denied Donaldson.
• Bennett came up tall on multiple Bucknell shots in the 107th minute, keeping Abby Gearhart and Donaldson off the scoresheet with a couple athletic saves.
• During the penalty kick shootout, Thompson, Oldham, and freshman Margy Porta were successful. Bucknell converted off the boots of Hall, Deda, White, and Donaldson.

 
GAME NOTES

• Bucknell sported the 21-11 advantage in shots, including 11-7 on target.
• The Bison also had an 11-7 edge in corner kicks.
• The result is BU's first draw in 2022, and the first since a 1-1 decision against Loyola Maryland on Oct. 23, 2021.
• In its last seven Patriot League Tournament matches, dating back to the 2018 campaign, the Terriers have allowed just one goal in regulation.
• BU also picked up its seventh shutout on the year.
• The Terriers have reached the semifinal round in the Patriot League Tournament nine times in 10 seasons as a league member.
• BU's seven road wins was their highest total since 1999. This featured a win over No. 25 Harvard on Oct. 4.
• In total, the Terriers shared the league lead with six All-Patriot League selections, including Gianino's Rookie of the Year award. BU also led the league with three Academic All-Patriot League picks.
• The all-time series moves to 7-5-2 in Bucknell's favor.