Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell Women's Lacrosse Makes Home Debut Wednesday vs. Penn State
2/14/2012 7:00:00 AM | Women's Lacrosse
Feb. 14, 2012
Bucknell-Penn State Live Stats on GameTracker 
LEWISBURG, Pa. -- The Bucknell women's lacrosse team welcomes 17th-ranked Penn State to Graham Field on Wednesday for its 2012 home opener. The Bison, who will be playing a nationally ranked team for the second time in as many games to begin the season, have had 11 days off since a season-opening loss to No. 5 Duke, while the Nittany Lions will be playing their first game. Opening draw is set for 4 p.m. Admission is free.
Head coach Randall Goldsborough, in the first year of her second stint at Bucknell, started three freshmen and six sophomores against the Blue Devils last week. One of those newcomers, attack Chloe Chou, assisted on all three Bucknell goals in the 25-3 setback, while freshman Arriana Sajjad came off the bench to score a pair of goals.
Junior co-captain Madison Hurwitz, the team's top returning goal scorer, also tallied a goal, while sophomore Katelyn Miller had a strong day in the midfield with three ground balls, two draw controls and two caused turnovers.
Led by head coach Missy Doherty, a former college teammate of Goldsborough's at Maryland, Penn State returns 16 letterwinners and five starters from last year's team that finished 10-8 and advanced to the American Lacrosse Conference semifinals. The Nittany Lions' roster contains 17 underclassmen, but Doherty has brought in a top-10 recruiting class, headlined by U-19 U.S. National Team member and 2011 U-19 World Championship MVP Tatum Coffey. Sophomore Mackenzie Cyr is Penn State's leading returning scorer after posting 35 points on 12 goals and 23 assists a year ago. Senior Dana Cahill is the reigning ALC Goalie of the Year.
Penn State has dominated the all-time series against Bucknell, winning all 12 meetings by a combined score of 233-35. The Nittany Lions won last season 22-2 in State College, and two seasons ago at Graham Field Penn State prevailed 15-2. These two teams first met back in 1985.
Following the Penn State game, Bucknell has another tough test coming up on Saturday at Duquesne. The Dukes, who will be playing their season opener, finished 11-7 overall and 4-3 in the Atlantic 10 last year.
