Bucknell Edges Flashes in Overtime
8/25/2007 12:00:00 AM | Field Hockey
Columbus, Ohio - Kent State (0-1) jumped out to a 2-0 first half lead before Bucknell (1-0) scored twice in the second and pulled out a 3-2 overtime victory Saturday afternoon (Aug. 25) at Ohio State's North Turf Field. Saturday was the 2007 regular season opening game for both teams and the first matchup between the two schools since 1989.
"We had a very good first half and a lot of opportunities in the second half," said Head Coach Kathleen Schanne. "We really moved the ball well, we just didn't finish off enough opportunites."
Junior forward Natalie Barrett picked up where she left off last season, by finding the back of the cage 20 minutes into the game after a scramble in front of the goal. Barrett has scored four goals in her last three games dating back to the 2006 MAC Tournament.
With less than five minutes remaining in the half, the Golden Flashes converted on a penalty corner, finished off by freshman Rachel Miller. Sophomore Allison Kittelberger made the insert pass to junior Stephanie Bernthal, who dished to Miller to give KSU a 2-0 lead. It was Miller's first collegiate goal and the first assists of the year for Kittelberger and Bernthal.
Bucknell cut into the two-goal deficit with 22 minutes to play on an unassisted goal by Jacquie Kataneksza. The Bison struck again eight minutes later when Megan Krebs made her way through a crowd for an unassisted score.
Early in the overtime period Bucknell put the pressure on once again and earned a quick penalty corner. Senior goalkeeper Kara Copeland made back-to-back saves, but Krebs collected two straight rebounds and found an open Kelly Hoffman for the win.
Copeland denied five shots on goal, playing in all 73:49. Each team took 12 shots, while the Flashes had the edge on penalty corners 8-6.
KSU will take on Delaware Sunday (Aug. 26) at 11:30 a.m. in day two of the Buckye Invitational. The Blue Hens blanked the host Buckeyes 4-0 in Saturday's opening game.
" We're looking forward to getting right back on the field tomorrow and proving ourselves against a good Delaware team," Schanne said.
