Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell Field Hockey to Clash with Crusaders, Crimson This Weekend
10/1/2010 8:00:00 AM | Field Hockey
Oct. 1, 2010
LEWISBURG, Pa. - After a pair of nerve-wracking stroke-off contests last weekend, Bucknell field hockey will be looking for an easier run as they return to the road for the first time in almost a month this weekend. The Bison (3-6) will open their Patriot League schedule in Worcester, Mass., on Saturday, taking on Holy Cross at 12 p.m. at the Hart Field Turf. Bucknell will then travel to Cambridge, Mass., on Sunday, for a first-time showdown with Harvard at 2 p.m.
ABOUT THE BISON
- Bucknell managed the rare feat of taking back-to-back games to stroke-offs last weekend. The Bison won the first extra-time game, 4-3 over Sacred Heart, on Saturday after taking a 3-0 advantage in strokes. Sunday's action proved less lucky, however, as Bucknell fell 2-1 to Indiana. That game went to extra strokes with the Hoosiers coming out on top 7-6.
- The Bison have gone to strokes three times in the last two seasons. That frequency has been an anomaly for Bucknell, which went to a stroke-off just twice since 1993 prior to its win over Columbia last year.
- Rachel Misko (Morristown, N.J./Madison) and Sarah Zargarpour (North Vancouver, Canada/Handsworth Secondary) made the most of last weekend's tight games. Misko was named the Patriot League Rookie of the Week on Monday, while Zargarpour earned the league's Goalkeeper of the Week. Zargarpour then added ECAC Defensive Player of the Week accolades to her resume on Tuesday. It was the second set of such honors this season for Zargarpour.
- Misko's awards came on the heels of scoring three goals against Sacred Heart and Indiana. The freshman scored twice against the Pioneers, giving her a career-best four points. After going scoreless in her first four games as a Bison, Misko has now tallied goals in four of her last five.
- Zargarpour set a career high with 10 saves against the Hoosiers and allowed just one goal. She was also perfect in goal over 65 minutes against the Pioneers. At the close of play last weekend, the junior had a 0.42 goals against average and a .933 save percentage.
- Three Bison share the team lead in points after nine games. Misko, Morgan Kauffman (Millersville, Pa./Penn Manor) and Kelly Bruvik (Skillman, N.J./Stuart Country Day) each have 10 points. Misko's have come on a team-leading five goals, while Kauffman has four goals and two assists. Bruvik's total comes of three goals and four assists.
- With Kauffman's goal against Sacred Heart on Saturday, the senior moved into seventh place on Bucknell's all-time points list with 64. She also broke into the top 15 in career goals at Bucknell. After just over three seasons, Kauffman is tied for 14th with Sue Ramage, Tina Jones and Megan Krebs with 18 goals.
- Jeremy Cook is moving up the record lists as well. The third-year head coach will be on the Bucknell sideline for his 48th game, tying him for fourth with Bobbi Testa for all0time games coached. Cook already is fourth on the Bucknell wins list for a head coach with 26.
- Bucknell trails 19-6 in the all-time series with Holy Cross, but the Bison earned the win when the teams met last season. Bucknell walked away with a 3-0 shutout in its final regular-season game, giving it a piece of first place in the Patriot League for the first time in program history. Kauffman, Bruvik and Krebs each scored in the contest, and Kauffman finished with four points after also adding two assists.
- Bucknell's 2009 win over Holy Cross snapped a four-game losing streak to the Crusaders. Current Bison graduate assistant coach Erin Singleton was a key culprit in handing Bucknell all those loses. A 2009 graduate of Holy Cross, Singleton was the winning goalkeeper in the final three decisions.
- In 25 tries, the Bison have never won back-to-back games against the Crusaders.
- Sunday's matchup with Harvard will be the first in program history. Bucknell is 1-1 against Ivy League opponents this season, including a loss to No. 4 Princeton and a win over Cornell.
ABOUT THE CRUSADERS
- Holy Cross has struggled under first-year head coach Zowie Tucker, bringing a 0-8 record into the contest with Bucknell. The Crusaders have been shut out five times this season and have been outscored 31-3.
- Jamie Caniglia leads the Crusaders in goals scored with two, while Lindsay MacPhail is tops in assists with two. Carly Grimaudo has earned a bit of both, registering a goal and an assist in her first eight games. Kelly Sotsky has played every minute in goal for Holy Cross, posting a 3.92 goals against average and a .635 save percentage.
- In 2009, Holy Cross finished the season 4-14 overall and 2-3 in the Patriot League. Both the Crusaders' all-league selections in Kaitlyn Barnes and Courtney Callahan have graduated.
- In support of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Holy Cross will host its first-ever Think Pink Day on Saturday. Donations received at the game will go to the Levine Cancer Center in Worcester, Mass.
ABOUT THE CRIMSON
- Harvard enters the weekend at 3-5 overall and 1-1 in the Ivy League. The Crimson, which will play Brown on Saturday, opened the season with victories over Holy Cross (6-1) and Bryant (5-2). They recently ended a five-game losing streak with a 2-0 decision over Penn last week.
- Chloe Keeting has made quite the impact offensively for Harvard. The senior leads the team in goals (4), assists (4) and points (12) this season. She also has two game winners. Cynthia Tassopoulos has earned a 3-5 record in goal to go along with a 1.69 goals against average and a .774 save percentage.
- The 2009 season ended with a 5-12 overall record for Harvard and a 2-5 Ivy League tally. Keating was also the team leader in that campaign with 10 goals and 25 points. She and Tassopoulos were named Honorable Mention All-Ivy League, while Carly Dickson was a second-team honoree.
LOOKING AHEAD
Bucknell will have both its next games aired on Bison Vision. The Orange and Blue will travel to Lafayette on Oct. 9 for a 12 p.m. showing, followed by a home contest vs. Columbia at 1 p.m. on Oct. 10 at Graham Field.
