Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
Saint Joseph's (at Drexel University)
Bucknell Field Hockey Wins Third Straight Game, Defeating Saint Joseph's 3-0
9/30/2008 8:00:00 AM | Field Hockey
Sept. 30, 2008
PHILADELPHIA, Pa. - Bucknell senior Katie Ruiz (Lewisburg, Pa./Lewisburg Area) notched her first career two-goal game, and goalkeepers Jessie Atieh (North Caldwell, N.J./West Essex) and Sarah Zargarpour (North Vancouver, Canada/Handsworth Secondary) combined to make 11 saves, as the Bison shut out Saint Joseph's, 3-0, on Tuesday, Sept. 30, in Philadelphia, Pa. The Orange and Blue (7-3) compiled a 6-2 record in Sept., and will begin Patriot League play this Saturday against Lafayette.
"We beat an outstanding Philadelphia team with an outstanding tradition," Bucknell head coach Jeremy Cook said. "We played very disciplined hockey. We attacked the circle very well and took advantage of our opportunities."
The Hawks (7-3) entered the game having won six of their last seven games, while averaging 2.33 goals per game this season. Bucknell seized the early momentum as Ruiz scored two minutes and seven seconds after the opening whistle. Corinne Raczek (Ocean Township, N.J./Ocean Township) attempted a long pass to Ruiz that the senior was able to shoot into the bottom left corner of the net.
The Bison entered play on Tuesday ranked sixth in Division I in penalty corners attempted per game (9.33), and they capitalized on an early penalty corner attempt, as senior co-captain Amanda Faust (Kingston, Pa./Wyoming Valley West) scored her team-leading seventh goal of the season 4:52 after Ruiz's goal. Raczek and Morgan Kauffman (Millersville, Pa./Penn Manor) assisted.
Atieh started the game for the Orange and Blue and made four saves in the first half. Zargarpour was between the pipes for Bucknell in the second half, and she stopped all seven shots that she faced.
Ruiz scored her second goal of the day and fifth of the season at the 42:29 mark, assisted by Raczek, her third of the game. Raczek found Ruiz centered in front of the net, and Ruiz did the rest.
Kauffman and Raczek now have nine assists each this season, tops in the Patriot League and one behind the Bison's single-season record of 10, held by Faust (2006), Alex Kyzmir (2005) and Jen Zimmerman (1997). Raczek's three assists in a game tie the single-game Bucknell record. Kauffman tied it earlier this year.
Saint Joseph's attempted 15 shots and five penalty corners, compared to just 14 and three, respectively, for Bucknell. Kelly Swanick made six saves in goal for the Hawks.
Bucknell will travel to Easton, Pa., on Saturday, Oct. 4, for a 1 p.m. match-up with the Leopards. This will also be the first conference game for Lafayette (7-3), who will travel to State College, Pa., for a game with the Penn State Nittany Lions tomorrow.
