LEWISBURG, PA — For the second time in their first two games of the season, the St. Bonaventure men’s soccer team came up just short, falling to Bucknell on the road.
On Aug. 24, the Bonnies lost 3-2 to the Bison, their second 3-2 defeat to start the year. But unlike their initial defeat against Niagara at home, Bona was not looking to stage a dramatic comeback so much as it sought to steal victory in a back-and-forth affair.
The sides wasted no time getting off the mark, with Bucknell’s Zane Domsohn finding the back of the net just 30 seconds into the game. But the Bonnies were not on the back foot for long, knotting up the scores with a goal from Seth Hammond before two minutes had elapsed.
The 1-1 tie remained intact going into halftime, but the scoring continued not long after play resumed. The difference being, this time it would be Bona that struck first.
Ricardo Rittersberger Galan, on the back of an assist from Kyle Macfarlane, gave the Bonnies a 2-1 advantage in the 48th minute, their first lead of the season. But just as they found a quick response in the fledgling moments of the fixture, the Bison did just that in the second half via Jack Lucas, who tied the game at 2-2 in the 54th.
Statistically, Buckell controlled the affair, taking a total of 25 shots to Bona’s 13, but ultimately both teams finished with six shots on frame. There seemed to be nothing to split the sides.
But in the dying minutes, the hosts found a winner, courtesy of Jakub Samelko. The game had been a tale of snappy responses, but with too little time left, Bona was forced to tally their second defeat of the season.
The Bonnies will be back in action, searching for the season’s first victory, on Aug. 28 when they are set to face St. Francis on the road at 2 p.m.
WOMEN’S SOCCER
Youngstown State 3, St. Bonaventure 0
YOUNGSTOWN, OH — In the second game of its five-game road trip, the St. Bonaventure women’s soccer team were held scoreless in a loss to Youngstown State.
The Penguins, earning their first win of the season, took down the Bonnies 3-0 on Aug. 24. For the former, it was the first time this season they had scored more than once in a game and for the latter, it was the first time they had been held without a goal.
Youngstown pummeled the Bona goal, rifling off 26 total shots, 13 of which were on target. But the Bonnies were not without their chances on net either, taking 14 shots, granted only five were on frame.
But for as much time as the hosts spent in their attacking third, there was nothing to split the sides at the break. Unfortunately for Bona, when Youngstown did eventually find a breakthrough, they did not let up.
All three of the Penguins’ goals were scored in an 11-minute span with Sara Felder knocking in the game’s opener in the 65th. Baylee Williams netted a brace in the 69th minute and Kamryn Rosa put the game to bed in the 76th.
Bona goalkeepers Juliana Castellano and Adelaide Paredes, took the first and second halves, respectively, and combined for 10 saves on the afternoon.
Next up for the Bonnies is an away affair at Saint Peter’s on Aug. 28 with kickoff slated for 4 p.m.
