Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell Field Hockey Closes Road Trip Sunday at Lock Haven
9/16/2011 8:00:00 AM | Field Hockey
Sept. 16, 2011
Bucknell pulled several highlights from its win over Central Michigan last week. Most recently, Amie Pritchard (Rumson, N.J./Kent School (Conn.)) was named the defensive player of the week by both the Patriot League and the ECAC. Pritchard made a crucial defensive save late in regulation against the Chippewas, putting the Bison in position to win in overtime. The freshman was also part of a defense that allowed just four shots on goal in the game.
Career firsts became the order of the day against Central Michigan. Pritchard's defensive save was a first, as was Erica Perrine's (Bridgewater, N.J./Bridgewater-Raritan) victory in goal. Kate Bowen (Forty Fort, Pa./Wyoming Valley West) earned her first career goal to knot the score at 1-1, and Rachel Misko (Morristown, N.J./Madison) netted her first career overtime goal.
Despite the milestones, wins in extra time are nothing new to Bucknell. The Bison were 2-1 in overtime, including 1-1 in games that went to a stroke off, last season. Since head coach Jeremy Cook took over in 2008, Bucknell is 6-4 in overtime matches.
Bucknell probably wouldn't complain if Sunday's game with Lock Haven (2-4) went past 70 minutes, either. The Bison trail in the all-time series with the Lady Eagles, 4-24-1, but they are 2-0-1 in overtime. Each of their last two meetings was decided by a single goal. The 2010 matchup ended with a 2-1 score with all three goals coming in the second half. The last time Bucknell defeated Lock Haven was a 2-1 overtime decision in 2000.
The Lady Eagles' Leslie Ahern and Kristi Shepps will be doing their best to extend their winning streak over the Bison to 10 games. Both players have four goals on the season, but Ahern has the edge in points thanks to seven assists. Goalkeeper Lindsay Staifenberg is 2-3 with a 2.08 goals against average and .762 save percentage. She recorded her first shutout of the season in a recent 6-0 win over Robert Morris.
Also returning from Lock Haven's squad that went 15-7 overall and earned a trip to the Atlantic 10 Championship last season is Najia Hasan. An all-tournament team selection, Hasan was also named second team all-conference along with Shepps. Despite finishing second in the standings in their debut season with the A-10, the Lady Eagles were selected fourth in the conference's preseason poll.
After facing off with Lock Haven, Bucknell will play its next five games at its own Graham Field. First up is Rider at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 24, followed by Rutgers at 2 p.m. the following day.
