Women’s Soccer was able to secure a big win over American University on Sept. 25, with Reese Evans ’25 putting the Bison on the scoreboard, Kelley Francis ’25 scoring a goal in the 77th minute putting Bucknell ahead by one goal and the game-securing goal scored by Katie Connell ’28. Teresa Deda ’25 also became Bucknell’s all-time assist leader. The Bison now have a record of 6-2-2 overall and a 2-0 record in the Patriot League.
Deda officially has 35 career assists, six in the first nine games of the 2024 season so far to add to the nine goals scored last season. She is currently matching Lisa Gibbons’ school record for career assists and is in fifth place for the Patriot League all-time assists chart. Head Coach Kelly Cook stated in an interview that “[Deda] just has that special ability to impact a game and make that final pass. She draws so much attention and she knows she is on everyone’s scouting reports, but she still finds ways to score goals and create for others with her fantastic vision.”
The game started on a rocky foot after the Eagles’ early goal, making the score 1-0 just 2:20 into the game. Although the Bison had difficulty with their corner kicks in their first few games of the season, Deda was finally able to turn one into a goal with her assist to Evans.
For a fifteen-minute stretch in the middle of the second half, Bucknell found itself in a 1-1 draw. Deda came to save the day with a through-ball to Francis who scored with only 13:09 left to play. Deda managed a pass through the Eagles’ defense and straight to Francis who ran into the box past the goalie and last defenseman, ultimately giving the Bison the lead.
The Orange and Blue were finally able to secure the game with five minutes left of play when Deda sent her final assist of the game to Connell who used her left foot to chip a shot into the top left corner of the goal. The Bison outshot American 23-13 and also had 11 corner kicks while the Eagles only had three.
On Saturday, Sept. 28, Bucknell suffered a tough loss against Army West Point, the only goal of which was scored in the second half giving Army the lead of 1-0. The Bison and Army West Point have played each other in the past two Patriot League Tournament finals, both ending in a win for the Orange and Blue in penalty-kick shootouts.
After Jess Benattar ’26 sustained an injury during the game against American on Sept. 25, Dylan Zednik ’27 started in goal and made four strong saves throughout the game. It wasn’t until the 49th minute of play that the Black Knights scored a 20-yard shot off the crossbar and into the top right corner after a throw-in.
During the last fifteen minutes of the first half of the game, Deda had two close shots on goal, one that was just slightly wide of the left goal post and one that was blocked by a diving save from the Black Knight goalie. Of the 11 shots that Bucknell took in the game, nine happened in the first half. In the 79th minute, Riley Hayes ’27 had a close shot that skimmed the crossbar. Army had twelve shots on goal, outshooting Bucknell by one.
The Bison will host Holy Cross on Emmitt Field this Saturday at 1 p.m.
