Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell Women's Soccer Visits No. 23 Rutgers Friday, Hosts Robert Morris Sunday
8/23/2012 8:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Aug. 23, 2012
- Bucknell-Rutgers Webcast
- Bucknell-Rutgers GameTracker
- Bucknell-Robert Morris GameTracker
- "In the Herd" Video Preview
LEWISBURG, Pa. -- The Bucknell women's soccer team is back in action with a two-game weekend, starting with its first road trip of the season to 23rd-ranked Rutgers on Friday at 5:30 p.m. The Bison return home on Sunday, taking on Robert Morris at Emmitt Field at 3 p.m.
Bucknell is looking to bounce back from a season-opening 3-0 loss to Binghamton last Friday. The Bison outshot the Bearcats 17-8 in that game but could not finish on some quality scoring chances. Meanwhile, Binghamton got behind the Bison defense three times and cashed in on all three.
Bucknell will certainly have its work cut out on Friday against a nationally ranked Rutgers side that blanked Monmouth (3-0) and Ohio State (1-0 2OT) at home last weekend. Junior Jonelle Filigno scored three goals in those two games, including both game-winners. The Scarlet Knights defense was unblemished for 191 minutes.
The Bison are 0-4 all-time against Rutgers, with three of the four meetings coming in Piscataway. The teams last met in Lewisburg in 2010. Rutgers, ranked No. 24 at the time, defeated Bucknell 3-0 with a late flurry. It was a scoreless game until the final 25 minutes, when the Scarlet Knights scored three times. Sandita McDermott was outstanding in goal that day for the Bison, making 13 saves.
Robert Morris will host Youngstown State on Friday before traveling to Emmitt Field for Sunday's contest. The Colonials are off to an 0-2 start after falling to Eastern Kentucky (1-0 OT) and Pittsburgh (2-1) last week. Junior Katie Austin netted the team's lone goal. The Bison will have to keep an eye on senior Ayana Davis, who ranks second in Robert Morris history with 27 goals.
The Bison and Colonials last met in 2008, when Nicole Marotta's 72nd-minute header lifted Bucknell to a 1-0 victory on a rainy night at Emmitt Field. The Bison hold an 8-1-1 lead in a series that dates back to 1993. Robert Morris' lone victory came on its home field in 2007.
This is the first of four straight weekends in which Bucknell will play Friday-Sunday sets. Next week, the Bison will host Buffalo on Friday at 7 p.m., then travel to St. Bonaventure for a 3 p.m. contest on Sunday, Sept. 2. The Buffalo contest will air live on Bison Vision.
