Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell Field Hockey Shoots for No. 1 Seed in Senior Day Contest with Holy Cross
10/30/2009 8:00:00 AM | Field Hockey
Oct. 30, 2009
LEWISBURG, Pa. – Bucknell field hockey will host Holy Cross in its final regular-season game of 2009, facing the Crusaders at noon on Saturday, Oct. 31 at Graham Field. The Bison (11-6, 3-1) have clinched a Patriot League Tournament berth, but they will be playing to stay in contention for the opportunity to host the year-ending event. The Orange and Blue will also be celebrating Senior Day prior to the game.
Live stats for the Bison-Crusader matchup will be available on GameTracker at BucknellBison.com.
ABOUT THE BISON
- With a win over Holy Cross, Bucknell would extend its current winning streak to four games, equaling its season high set at the end of August and the beginning of September. In its most recent unbeaten stretch, Bucknell has defeated Georgetown (3-1), Colgate (4-2) and Cornell (1-0 OT).
- Several Bison got in on the action in the team's victories over Colgate and Cornell last weekend. Christine Weiss (Bethlehem, Pa./Southern Lehigh) equaled her career-best four points with a pair of goals, while Morgan Kauffman (Millersville, Pa./Penn Manor) tied her career-best three assists against the Raiders. Austin Thomas (Tunkhannock, Pa./Tunkhannock) and Megan Krebs (Wilkes-Barre, Pa./G.A.R. Memorial) also scored in the contest, and Corinne Raczek (Ocean Township, Ocean Township) and Tayler Siegrist (Madison, N.J./Madison) recorded assists. Weiss struck again a day later, tallying an assist on a goal by Kelly Bruvik (Skillman, N.J./Stuart Country Day) in the overtime win at Cornell.
- Although the Bison have already assured themselves a spot in the Patriot League Tournament for the second consecutive year, they are still in the running for the No. 1 seed and home field advantage. If Bucknell wins over Holy Cross and American loses to Lehigh on Sunday, the Bison will host their first league tournament in program history. In other scenarios, the Bison can finish no worse than third in the Patriot League.
- Bucknell has finished second in the Patriot League three times since 1990. The squad has also claimed third place seven times. The Bison have never won a Patriot League regular-season title.
- By earning the win at Colgate, Jessie Atieh (North Caldwell, N.J./West Essex) improved her record this year to 10-6. That wins total ties her for fourth all-time at Bucknell. With one more victory, the senior will join Betsy Doyle (1979), Cindy Barbosa (1984) and Sonja Wettergreen (1999) in the tie for first place. Atieh also ranks sixth on the single-season wins list with nine victories last season.
- The Bison are leading the Patriot League in a handful of categories, both as a team and as individuals. Bucknell is number one in shots (270), shots per game (15.88) and penalty corners (160, 9.41/game). Raczek is also the league's assists leader with nine this year. Kauffman is close behind in a second-place tie with eight helpers.
- Bucknell will recognize a quartet of seniors prior to the game with Holy Cross for their four-year commitment to the program. Atieh, Sarah Ebright (Hummelstown, Pa./Lower Dauphin), Krebs and Thomas will all play their final regular-season game in the Orange and Blue on Saturday.
ABOUT THE CRUSADERS
- Holy Cross leads in the all-time series with Bucknell, 19-6. When the two teams met last year, the Crusaders came out on top in double overtime, 3-2. Holy Cross led 2-0 after the first half, but former Bison Katie Ruiz and Emily Hutchison knotted it up at 2-2 to close out regulation. Bucknell's current graduate assistant coach, Erin Singleton, was the Crusaders' goalkeeper in that matchup, making 11 saves. Bucknell last defeated Holy Cross in their 2005 regular-season meeting, 3-2 in overtime.
- Holy Cross is 4-13 overall in 2009 and 2-2 in the Patriot League. The Crusaders are fighting for a Patriot League Tournament berth. With American and Bucknell already in the field, the Crusaders will need either a win over the Bison or losses by both American and Lafayette to claim one of the remaining two spots.
- Holy Cross has been outscored by its opponents by nearly two goals per game this season. The Crusaders are averaging 1.47 goals, while opponents have netted 3.29 goals per game.
- The Crusaders are led offensively by Courtney Callahan with 19 points on a team-leading nine goals and one assist. Alanna Sikorski is the only other Crusader in double-figure points with 12. Kaitlyn Barnes leads Holy Cross in assists this season with four. Defensively, the Crusaders rely on Breezy Rush, who ranks second in the Patriot League with five defensive saves. The Crusaders' goalkeeper, Kelly Casey, has played every minute in goal for her team and enters the game with a 3.44 goals against average and a .650 save percentage.
UP NEXT
With the regular season over after Saturday's game against Holy Cross, the Bison will await their Patriot League Tournament opponent. Seeds and tournament site will be determined following the American-Lehigh contest on Sunday.
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