Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell Women's Soccer to Battle Navy for Playoff Berth
10/27/2005 8:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Oct. 27, 2005
LEWISBURG, Pa. - Bucknell will take to the Varsity Soccer Field, tomorrow night, Oct. 28, for a crucial Patriot League women's soccer match against Navy at 7:00 p.m. The Bison and Midshipmen enter the game with playoff hopes at stake for both teams. Bucknell is currently 3-3-0 in the Patriot League and 9-8-0 overall and can clinch the fourth and final spot in the Patriot League championship with a win over Navy. The Mids at 2-4-0, 10-6-2 overall, are currently sixth in the league standings and are also still in contention for the postseason.
A win by Navy, coupled by a loss by American to Colgate on Saturday would move the Midshipmen into the Patriot League Tournament. If the squads play to a tie, Navy is out, and Bucknell is in if American ties or loses to Colgate.
The contest marks the 15th meeting all-time between the Bison and the Midshipmen since the series began in 1995. Bucknell has a 3-10-1 record against Navy with its last win coming in the Patriot League Championship game by a 2-1 margin. The last regular season goal by the Bison against Navy came on Sept. 15, 2000, in the 67th minute of a 3-2 victory by the Blue and Orange.
Bucknell enters the match on the heels of a 2-1 come-from-behind victory over Holy Cross last Sunday. Junior Jennifer Margolis (Englishtown, N.J./Manalapan) leads the Bison with 12 goals and three assists for 27 points and has six of the team's nine game-winning goals. She ranks first in the Patriot League in game-winning goals, second in goals and third in points. Sophomore Krista Lee Gentile (Haledon, N.J./Immaculate Heart Academy) follows and has 20 points in 17 games on seven goals and six assists. Junior goalkeeper Katie Dry (Rochester, N.Y./Our Lady of Mercy) has appeared in 13 games this season for Bucknell and has 52 saves on the year with a 1.63 goals against average and a record of 7-6-0 with one shutout.
The Mids are coming off a 2-1 win over Lafayette on Oct. 23 and have outscored opponents, 35-16 on the season. Meggie Curran leads Navy with 30 points on nine goals and 12 assists. Haley Crain has started 16 of 18 games in goal for the Midshipmen and has a record of 8-6-2 with two shutouts, 49 saves and a goals against average of 0.99.
Prior to kickoff, the Bison will honor the ten seniors from this year's squad who will be competing in their final regular season match at Bucknell.
This year's Patriot League postseason tournament will take place Friday, Nov. 4, and Sunday, Nov. 6, at the home field of the league's regular-season champion. Bucknell last won the postseason title in 2001.
