Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell Field Hockey Opens Patriot League Play With Lehigh
9/29/2006 8:00:00 AM | Field Hockey
Sept. 29, 2006
LEWISBURG, Pa - The Bucknell field hockey squad will host its first Patriot League game of the season against Lehigh on Saturday, Sept. 30, at 1 p.m. on Graham Field. The Orange and Blue will be looking to break their three-game losing streak. Currently, the Bison stand at 4-4 on the season with three wins coming at home. The Mountain Hawks are currently 2-6, but lead the all-time series, 12-19-1.
The Bison will look to offensive and defensive leaders to set the tone for Saturday's game against Lehigh. Sophomore Amanda Faust (Kingston, Pa./Wyoming Valley West) leads the team in points with 15, which is fifth best in the Patriot League. Seniors Callista Costopoulos (Shermans Dale, Pa./West Perry) and Katie Urosevich (Lewisburg, Pa./Lewisburg) are second and third on the team in points with 11 and 10, respectively. Costopoulos and Faust are tied for goals with five apiece, which is a team high. Senior Anne Lutz (Allentown, Pa./William Allen) leads the squad in assists with six. Her six assists are fourth best in the Patriot League, just two behind league-leader Irene Schickhardt of American with eight.
On the defensive side, the Orange and Blue will be led by two-time Patriot League Defensive Player of the Week Steph Graf (Jamison, Pa./Central Bucks East). The sophomore ranks first in the league in defensive saves with two. Between the pipes will be senior Emily Groendyke, who leads has a save percentage of .756 and a goals against average of 1.67. Groendyke also has 34 saves on the year with one shutout.
For Lehigh, Kara Zweizig, has a team best three goals and six points. Christy Smith and Kelly Fox are tied for second on the team in goals with two apiece, while Marny Hearn has a team-high three assists. In goal for Lehigh will be Stephanie Palmieri, who is second in the league with 60 saves. The Mountain Hawk goalie has a .723 save percentage and a 2.84 goals against average.
Bucknell will face American next Saturday, Oct. 7, in Washington, D.C., at 12 p.m. for its second Patriot League match of the year.
