Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell Women's Soccer Hosts UMBC Tonight in Home Opener
9/2/2009 8:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Sept. 2, 2009
LEWISBURG, Pa. -- After falling twice at James Madison's season-opening tournament last weekend, the Bucknell women's soccer team goes in search of its initial 2009 victory on friendlier turf Wednesday evening when UMBC visits Emmitt Field at Holmes Stadium at 7 p.m.
The Bison dropped a 4-1 decision to Towson in the season opener on Friday evening, then fell 3-0 on Sunday to a James Madison team that advanced to the Sweet Sixteen a year ago. Despite not coming away with a positive result, coach Ben Landis felt that his team played much more organized in game two after some opening-night jitters. Now the Bison will look to translate that into a victory against a UMBC side that is also off to an 0-2 start.
BISON WOMEN'S SOCCER NOTEBOOK
Coverage
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Bucknell vs. UMBC Series Notes
- Bucknell has beaten the Retrievers in each of the last two seasons and leads the all-time series 3-2.
- UMBC won the first meeting 4-2 in Baltimore in 1991, while the Bison prevailed a year later at home 3-2.
- Since resuming the series in 2007, Bucknell has won both contests by a combined margin of 8-1.
- In last year's season opener, Bucknell prevailed 3-0 on the road. Chelsea Brinkman had a goal and an assist in that game, while Jennifer Dervarics and Nicole Marotta added goals for the Bison, who outshot UMBC 14-3.
About UMBC
- The Retrievers are off to an 0-2 start, falling 4-0 at No. 23 Rutgers and 5-0 at La Salle.
- This is UMBC's third game in a four-game roud trip to start the year. They will play at crosstown rival Towson on Sunday before finally playing a home game against George Washington next week.
- Sophomore goalie Mo Van Vlerah has made 10 saves in the two games so far. Freshman forward Rachel McKee has taken three of the Retrievers' seven shots on the season.
- The team returned seven starters and 14 letterwinners from the 2008 squad that finished 3-16-0 overall and 2-6-0 in the America East Conference.
About the Bison
- Bucknell, which has reached double-digit wins in each of the last four seasons, is in an unusual predicament at 0-2. The Bison are off to an 0-2 start for the first time since 2000. They have only been 0-3 once before in its history, and that was in their inaugural season in 1990.
- Sophomores Megan DeGennaro and Casey Crowley were both named to the all-tournament team at the JMU/Comfort Inn Harrisonburg Invitational last weekend.
- DeGennaro scored the team's lone goal over the weekend, coming late in Friday night's game against Towson.
- Junior Christa Matlack, the Patriot League Preseason Offensive Player of the Year, led all players with five shots in the Towson game.
- Bucknell has used all three goalkeepers thus far. Senior Kathryn Sutton has started both games and has seven saves. Freshman Sandita McDermott played the final 25 minutes against Towson and stopped one shot, while sophomore Colleen Garrehy got the call in the second half against JMU and was credited with five saves.
- In addition to McDermott, three other Bison freshmen have seen time so far. Kayla Yee and Jenna Tryon have appeared in both games, while Emily Trosch debuted against JMU.
Looking Ahead
- After the UMBC game, the Bison will head back on the road on Sunday, traveling to Pittsburgh to take on Duquesne at 1 p.m. Bucknell will be home again next Wednesday, Sept. 9, hosting Saint Francis (Pa.) at 7 p.m.
