The Bison secured two major wins this past weekend against American University and Colgate University. 

The Orange and Blue traveled to Washington D.C. on Wednesday, where they met American. Both teams led defensively and had a few chances on goal. Bucknell almost took the lead in the sixty-third minute when Paige Temple ’25 finished a cross from Meghan White ’26. The goal was called off due to an apparent hand ball on Temple’s part. 

The Bison kept the pressure up the rest of the game and were finally able to convert in the eighty-second minute. Abby Gearhart ’23 got a toe on a ball from an American center back and Rylee Donaldson ’23 picked up the ball for the counter attack. Donaldson was able to play back and forth with Teresa Deda ’25 and finally find Gearhart in the center of the box. Her one touch shot made its way past the keeper and into the goal, giving the Bison the 1-0 lead.

The Orange and Blue only allowed the American four shots on goal. Jenna Hall ’24 finished with three saves and her third shutout of the season. The defense did a tremendous job at keeping American from scoring, and had amazing support from their wingbacks. Substitutions were made due to the warm weather and need for water breaks.

The Bison got to play home Saturday afternoon against Colgate after five games on the road.

“Being able to play at home was a treat,” Gearhart said. “Competing in front of friends and family is always the best.”

The girls came out putting immediate pressure on the opposing goalie. The Bison scored three times within the first 37 minutes of the match. Gearhart, Reese Evans ’25 and Henna Andican ’26 each scored during the game against Colgate. They had a couple attempts but Colgate never came out successful. Impressive stops by keeper Hall, Olivia DeConinck ’25 and other defenders helped secure the shutout.

Each goal came from wide crosses into the box. Gearhart now leads for most goals on the season with three, and Deda tallied another assist to put her at five on the season and 17 in her overall career.

The Bison tallied 11 corner kicks and 14 shots on goal only in the first 45 minutes of the game. After each goal, the pressure did not stop. Deda and Andican each came close to adding to the score. By the end of the game they had 23 shots on goal and 14 corner kicks.

Gearhart said that the team planned to put previous losses behind them and “focus one game at a time.” 

The Orange and Blue improved to 2-1 in Patriot League play and 5-4-1 overall. They look to continue this winning streak as they take on Princeton at home.