Nov. 4, 2016
Box Score
LEWISBURG, Pa. - The Lafayette women's soccer team capped off its longest season in program history in the Patriot League semifinals on Friday afternoon in Lewisburg, Pa., falling by a 2-0 score to top-seeded Bucknell.
"It was really pleasing to see how we played Tuesday and to come out and play well again tonight," head coach Mick Statham said. "We just leave nothing on the field and it's a hallmark of the group. They're never beaten, but I think we just ran out of time tonight."
The Leopards finish 2016 with an overall record of 7-8-4, advancing to their first Patriot League Tournament since 2011. Lafayette started it off on Tuesday with a double-overtime victory at Lehigh in the quarterfinal round as senior Joanna Scotti finished it off with a header in the 109th minute.
Unfortunately, the ball didn't bounce the Leopards' way on Friday, however, as both Bucknell goals were scored in scrum situations in the box. The first tally came in the 26th minute as Alexis Gannon was able to finish off the third shot of the sequence past Lafayette goalkeeper Danielle Sedillo for the early 1-0 lead.
The game moved into the break with the Leopards within one and the second half started slowly as neither team was able to tally a shot through the first 15 minutes. Unfortunately, though, the Bison broke through in the 68th minute as a similar play ended in a second goal for the home side as Gabi Rosenfeld was the scorer to make it a 2-0 game.
Lafayette's best response came after the second goal, though, as senior Melissa Lynskey and junior Rebekka Arnthorsdottir tested Bucknell keeper Jessica Ratner. In the 70th minute, Lynskey and classmate Elizabeth Scoda worked a give-and-go down the left side as Scoda left it for Lynskey on the left side of the box. Lynskey put a hit across the front of goal but just outside the far right post.
Just four minutes later came the Leopards' best chance. Lynskey found space on the left and fired a cross through the box to sophomore Alex Stanford on the far side. Stanford settled and left for Arnthorsdottir, who put a point-blank shot just over the crossbar.
Lafayette's second-half keeper Kelly O'Brien was excellent down the stretch, making a number of saves, including a point-blank stop in the 85th minute to keep the game within striking distance. In the end, though, the Leopards couldn't find enough offense to keep their season alive.
Seniors Sedillio, Lynskey, Scotti, Julia Wescott, Scoda, Monica Weiss, Cassidy Taylor and Kaelin King played their final games in the Maroon and White.
"I'm really happy they got to experience so many positive things," Statham added. "The game promises you nothing, so there's a lot of work to do to get to this position. The seniors have created something that the younger players have to now become the custodians of. Hopefully, they've learned their lessons from this senior class and they take it to a new level in the future."
