Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
Harvard
Second Consecutive Shutout Gives Bucknell Field Hockey 3-0 Victory Over Harvard
10/3/2010 8:00:00 AM | Field Hockey
Oct. 3, 2010
CAMBRIDGE, Mass. - For the second time this season, Bucknell field hockey recorded back-to-back shutouts, defeating Harvard 3-0 at Jordan Field on Sunday afternoon. One day after the Bison blanked Holy Cross in their Patriot League opener, Morgan Kauffman (Millersville, Pa./Penn Manor) and Kelly Bruvik (Skillman, N.J./Stuart Country Day) netted their team-leading fifth goals of the season, while Corinne Raczek (Ocean Township, N.J./Ocean Township) claimed her first to improve the Bison's record to 5-6 this fall.
With Bucknell holding Harvard's offense scoreless, it has totaled four shutouts on the year. Before defeating Holy Cross 2-0 yesterday, the Bison also won 3-0 over Cornell on Sept. 11 and 4-0 over Towson on Sept.12. Its four shutouts are the most by the Orange and Blue in a single season since the 1999 squad accomplished the feat six times.
Through two games this weekend, the Bison defense allowed just one shot on goal. That lone attempt came off a Harvard stick, and Sarah Zargarpour (North Vancouver, Canada/Handsworth Secondary) made the stop to give Bucknell its second consecutive shutout. Zargarpour has started in goal for each of the Bison's four shutouts this season, bringing her career total to five, which ranks ninth all-time at Bucknell.
Kauffman recorded what turned out to be the game-winning goal on Sunday. The senior redirected a shot from Rachel Misko (Morristown, Pa./Madison) following a penalty corner at 15:36.
Raczek then gave Bucknell the 2-0 lead over Harvard (3-7) at the half. Raczek carried the ball into the circle from the right, giving her the look she needed to put the ball past Cynthia Tassopoulos in the opposite corner with less than 10 minutes remaining in the stanza.
After the first 35 minutes, the only real statistical imbalance was in the goals scored. Despite being up by two on Harvard, Bucknell led just 4-3 in shots and the squads were tied with two penalty corners apiece.
Momentum tilted farther in Bucknell's favor in the second half, however. The Bison recorded nearly twice as many shots as the Crimson, and Bruvik's attempt with 7:55 remaining paid off. The senior put yet another goal past Tassopoulos' left side for a 3-0 advantage.
Bruvik's goal was the second of the weekend after her second-half score against Holy Cross. With both goals, Bruvik has tallied at least one point in each of Bucknell's last seven games.
Kauffman and Bruvik now share the team lead in goals with Misko this season. Their scores against Harvard allowed them to continue their climb up the Bucknell record lists as well. Bruvik is now tied for 12th with 21 career goals, while Kauffman moved into 14th with 19.
Zargarpour earned the win in goal for Bucknell, giving her a 5-5 season record. Her goals against average also dropped to 1.75 for the year. Tassopoulos dropped to 3-7 on the season after making five saves but allowing all three goals.
After opening the season 0-4, the Bison have gone 5-2 in their last seven games. Bucknell will try to keep its turnaround going in the right direction when it faces Lafayette in Easton, Pa., on Saturday, Oct. 9. That contest, which is slated for a 12 p.m. start, can be seen live on Bison Vision at BucknellBison.com.
