Bucknell University
Holy Cross
Bucknell Field Hockey Shuts Out Holy Cross 3-0 in Regular-Season Finale
10/31/2009 8:00:00 AM | Field Hockey
Oct. 31, 2009
LEWISBURG, Pa. - Bucknell field hockey earned a 3-0 win over Holy Cross with the help of a four-point performance from Morgan Kauffman (Millersville, Pa./Penn Manor) Saturday afternoon at Graham Field. The shutout victory assures the Bison (12-6, 4-1) at least a piece of the Patriot League regular-season title for the first time in program history and keeps them in the running for home-field advantage in the league's year-ending tournament.
The Bison closed out the regular-season with their best record in 11 years. The last time Bucknell field hockey recorded at least a dozen wins came in 1999 when they finished the season at 14-7. This is also the first season since 2005 the Orange and Blue have gone 4-1 in the Patriot League. Bucknell finished second to American that year.
Despite being Senior Day, it was a Bison junior who stole the show. Kauffman put Bucknell on the scoreboard about midway through the first half after gathering a rebound off a Kelly Bruvik (Skillman, N.J./Stuart Country Day) shot. The goal of the rebound was Kauffman's fifth of the season.
A one-goal lead does not leave a lot of room for error in most instances, but Bucknell was rarely challenged by Holy Cross (4-12, 2-3). The Crusaders were unable to get a shot off in the opening frame, and they entered the locker room trailing 11-0 in shots.
It took the Crusaders more than seven minutes into the second half to record their first shot, but they were already trailing by two goals at that point. Megan Krebs (Wilkes-Barre, Pa./G.A.R. Memorial) netted her fourth goal of the season on the assist by Kauffman. Kauffman passed the ball into the middle of the circle from the left side to set up her elder teammate for a goal at 28:38.
Kauffman continued her unselfish ways three minutes later as she recorded her 10th assist of the season. This time it was Bruvik on the receiving end. Bruvik scored her seventh goal of the year at 25:34, putting the game out of reach for Holy Cross.
Although Holy Cross continued to put in the effort, Bucknell dominated throughout play. The Bison finished with 17 shots, eight of which were on goal, while the Crusaders registered six total shots.
Jessie Atieh (North Caldwell, N.J./West Essex) needed just two saves to record her second shutout of the season. Her win in the cage also gives her 11 this year, tying her for first place on Bucknell's all-time list in single-season victories.
Bucknell's next opportunity to play will come in the Patriot League Tournament beginning Friday, Nov. 6. Its opponent and the tournament site have yet to be determined. Whether the Bison will host the event will be decided tomorrow when American takes on Lehigh in Washington, D.C. An American loss or tie would guarantee the Bison home-field advantage. The Patriot League championship game is slated for Saturday, Nov. 7.
