HAMILTON – The Colgate women's soccer team trailed Bucknell 2-1 in the second half, but the Raiders scored two unanswered goals in the final 27 minutes to earn a dramatic 3-2 win and hand the Bison their first Patriot League loss of the season Saturday night at Beyer-Small '76 Field.
The Raiders got out to a quick 1-0 lead behind a beautiful goal from first-year
Ellis Miller, but Bucknell battled back to take a 2-1 lead shortly into the second half. Senior
Eliza Doll scored the equalizer in the 64th minute and sophomore
Abby Sotomayor followed with the game-winner in the 87th to lead Colgate to the 3-2 victory. Colgate's goals were the first the Bison have given up to a Patriot League opponent this season.
The win moves Colgate into a tie for first place in the Patriot League standings as the Raiders and Navy are both now 5-0-1 in league action. Colgate stretched its unbeaten streak to nine-straight games with the victory, it's longest since the 2014 strung together a 13-game streak en route to a regular-season Patriot League Championship.
Sophomore keeper
Kelly Chiavaro made a key save just 17 seconds into the game on a Bucknell attempt right in front of the net. The Raiders got on the board in the 11th minute as a deflected ball from Sotomayor found the foot of Miller on the left side of the field about 40 yards out. Miller took a few touches before firing the ball into the upper 90. Bucknell keeper Dani Kaufman got a hand on it, but it wasn't enough as the ball soared into the back of the net to give the Raiders a 1-0 lead.
Colgate kept up the pressure, out-shooting the Bison 5-2 over the next 20-plus minutes. The Raiders maintained possession for much of that time, but Bucknell was able to capitalize on a chance in the 34th minute. Kendall Ham slotted home a deflected ball just outside the six-yard box to knot the score at 1-1.
The Raiders had three more strong chances in the final 15 minutes of the frame, but the game went to halftime tied at 1-1.
Colgate nearly scored a go-ahead goal just over five minutes into the second half as a diving attempt from Sotomayor ricocheted off the top post and out of play.
The Bison answered a few minutes later as Maddie Mulford knocked in a ball off a corner kick to put Bucknell ahead 2-1 in the 55th minute.
The Raiders regained possession and continued to pressure the Bucknell backline. Doll stepped up and found the equalizer in the 64th minute as she took a pass from Cosentino and chipped it over Kaufman's head to tie the score at 2-2.
Chiavaro and the Raider backline stood strong through tough Bucknell pressure in the next 10 minutes to keep the game tied before Sotomayor netted the game-winner in the 87th minute. Cosentino executed another beautiful pass to a streaking Sotomayor who remained onside before getting into a one-on-one situation with Kaufman. Sotomayor had no problem sending the ball directly into the left-side netting to give the Raiders a 3-2 lead with just over three minutes left to play.
Colgate kept the ball away from the Bison for the final three minutes of action to hold on for the 3-2 victory and hand Bucknell its first Patriot League loss of the season.
BOTTOM LINE
WON-LOST RECORDS
- The Raiders run their unbeaten streak to nine-straight games and move to 9-4-1 on the season and 5-0-1 in Patriot League play. Colgate's 16 points in the league standings ties Navy for first place. The Raiders and Mids meet next Saturday at Beyer-Small '76 Field on Senior Night.
- Bucknell suffers its first Patriot League loss of the season and first league loss since Oct. 22, 2016 as the Bison fall to 8-7-0 overall and 5-1-0 in the league.
KEY RAIDER INFO
- The Raiders beat the Bison for the first time since the 2014 season.
- Sotomayor's game-winning goal was her second-straight game-winner. She scored Colgate's goal in its 1-0 win over Cornell Monday. It marked her fifth goal of the season.
- Miller's goal was her third of the season, while Doll recorded her second.
- Cosentino tallied two assists, bringing her team-leading season points total to 16.
FACTS & FIGURES
- The Raiders finished the game with an 18-13 shot advantage and 10-6 shot on goal edge.
- The Bison led corner kicks 4-0.
- Chiavaro finished with four saves in goal, while the Raiders forced Kaufman to make seven stops.
FROM THE SOURCE
Head Coach
Kathy Brawn
- "Bucknell is an outstanding team. It went back-and-forth a bit, but both teams kept battling. We found a way to score the equalizer and the go-ahead. When you're able to do that and stay solid as a team, good things can happen."
- "Our players continue to consistently give us chances to win games. That goes for the preparation leading up to the game as well. We've got such a solid group of 24 in terms of the chemistry and resolve of all of them and that makes a big difference."
- "We've talked a lot about focusing on the game at hand. We need to continue to stay focused on the next game and not get ahead of ourselves. Staying in the moment and making sure we recover is very important. Wednesday at Holy Cross will be another test where we need to limit distractions on the road against a solid team."
Sophomore
Abby Sotomayor
- "This is a big win, but the next game is always even bigger. We're really looking to win out the rest of the season and host the Patriot League Tournament. We're happy to get this win, but excited to move on to the next game too."
- (On the play that led to her game-winning goal) "Me and Mara have been playing like that since we've been eight or nine. It was a good combo play and good heads up play. I don't think the Bucknell defense knew what to do with so many of us coming at them throughout the whole game."
UP NEXT
- The Raiders hit the road for a mid-week tilt at Holy Cross Wednesday at 7 p.m.
- Following Wednesday's game, Colgate will return to Beyer-Small '76 Field for its final home game of the regular season when the Raiders host Navy on Senior Day Saturday at 7 p.m.
