Oct. 17, 2009
Box Score
LEWISBURG, Pa. - Senior forward Christa Matlack scored a pair of first-half goals to lift host Bucknell (8-6-1, 3-1-0 PL) to a 3-1 victory over the Navy women's soccer team (11-3-2, 2-1-1 PL) on Saturday afternoon from a cold and rainy Emmitt Field.
The loss, just Navy's third this season, snaps a recent four-game unbeaten streak. It is also the Midshipmen's first setback in Patriot League play in 17 matches dating back to the 2006 season. Ironically, Navy's last loss in league play back on Oct. 29, 2006 in Annapolis, also came at the hands of Bucknell.
"We got off to a slow start and they really put us on our heels early with two quick goals," said Navy head coach Carin Gabarra. "They are a very good attacking team and Matlack is one of the league's top forwards - and she certainly showed that to be the case today."
Bucknell was off to the races early, as Matlack gave the Bison an early 1-0 advantage on a breakaway goal just 5:16 into the contest. The hosts would continue to carry the play and generate quality opportunities, seeming to be just a step ahead of the Mids for much of the opening half.
The Bison would break through in the contest's 28th minute, once again off the foot of their standout senior forward. This time Matlack received a cross from teammate Chelsea McGorry inside the box, settled it, turned and fired a shot high past Reed from roughly 12 yards out.
Bucknell had several opportunities to add to its two-goal advantage, but it was clear that standout Navy keeper Beth Reed (Indianapolis, Ind.) was on her game.
Reed recorded six first-half saves (seven on the day), including several from point-blank range, and her efforts proved key as they afforded Navy a chance to get back into the game on a 42nd-minute score from Katelyn George (Loveland, Ohio).
After a corner kick, senior Brittany White (Carmel, Ind.) sent the ball from the top of the box to freshman Brittany Fruin (Reston, Va.) at the right post. Fruin volleyed it back across the goal mouth to George, who was there to punch in her second goal in as many games (she scored her first collegiate goal last Sunday against Holy Cross).
The Mids would earn another late corner and nearly evened things up, but Shelly Moeller's (Milford, Ohio) header went over the bar.
The late surge salvaged a first half that otherwise belonged to the host Bison, who outshot Navy by a 10-4 margin in the period.
The Mids, however, would not manage to build off of the late-goal as Bucknell added to its lead just 6:22 into the second half on a Brooke Stokes goal that snuck inside the left post from 18-yards out.
Navy generated three shots on goal the rest of the way and earn a pair of corners, but was unable to solve the Bison defense for a second time on the afternoon.
Bucknell finished with a 17-10 advantage in shots, while the Mids won the corners battle by a 5-3 count.
Navy returns to action on Friday, Oct. 23 at Lehigh in a contest scheduled to kickoff at 7:00 pm.
Match Notes:
*Matlack's 6th-minute goal snapped a Navy shutout streak of 385:16
*Saturday's result was the first Navy-Bucknell contest in seven matches since 11/1/03 that was decided by more than one goal.
*Brittany White now has a team-leading and career-high six assists on the season. White currently ranks second on the team with a career-best 14 points (4 g, 6 a).
## GO NAVY! ##
