LEWISBURG, Pa. – The Lock Haven field hockey team (12-4) fell in a road contest with Bucknell University (5-11), 3-2, on Sunday afternoon in a non-conference contest as the Bald Eagles made the short trip to Lewisburg.
 
In the third game of a five-game road trip, the Bald Eagles and Bison were locked in a scoreless first period, but a three-goal explosion in the second quarter turned up the heat on an exciting matchup.
 
Lily Neilson got the action started for the home team and grabbed a goal at the 18-minute mark off a strong penalty corner routine.
 
Martina Spangenberg (Buenos Aries, Argentina/Piaget) continued her red-hot form with her 10^th goal of the season when she tied the game at 1-1 off an assist from Ellie Mead (Chesterfield, Va./Cosby (Coker)). Spangenberg's 10 goals are good enough for third in the Atlantic 10 (A-10).
 
The Bison jumped back in front just before the halftime break on another penalty corner play, and led 2-1 going into halftime.
 
Action slowed once more in the third period, but final period brought the fireworks. Jazmin Palma (Entre Rios Providence Argentina/Colegio Sagrado Corazon de Jesus) notched her second goal in as many games and her eighth of the season with a penalty stroke goal in the 53^rd minute. Palma equalizing-goal jumps her into a tie for fourth-place in the conference.
 
In the 56^th minute, the Bison again struck off a penalty corner and it was Neilson who stuck the decisive blow with her second goal of the game and her 13^th of the season. Bucknell was able to fend off the Bald Eagles in the final minutes to pick up the 3-2 non-conference victory.
 
Lock Haven held a 13-8 lead in total shots and forced four saves from the Bison goalkeeper, but the home team's efficiency scoring on three of their seven penalty corners proved to be the deciding factor. Palma's four shots paced The Haven attack as she and Mead also led the defensive effort.
 
Up Next:
The Haven clashes with UMass in the final game of the A-10 slate on Friday (Oct. 28) at 3 p.m. The Bald Eagles have all but assured their spot in the conference playoffs, but Friday's contest still holds significant seeding implications for both sides.