Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell Women's Soccer Hosts Canisius Friday Night
9/19/2012 8:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Sept. 19, 2012
- Bucknell-Canisius GameTracker
LEWISBURG, Pa. -- The Bucknell women's soccer team, the winner of six of its last eight games, has one final tuneup remaining before the start of Patriot Legaue play, and it comes at Emmitt Field on Friday at 7 p.m. against Canisius. The Bison just returned home from the West Coast, where they went 1-1 and finished in second place at the Saint Mary's Tournament, and they will put a 6-4 record on the line against 2-6 Canisius on Friday.
The Bison have been on a Western New York revenge tour of sorts this fall, and they will have another chance on Friday. Bucknell started last season with consecutive 1-0 losses to St. Bonaventure, Buffalo and Canisius, and it has already bounced back with wins over St. Bonaventure and Buffalo this season.
Bucknell has enjoyed winning streaks of four and two games so far, and now the Bison will be looking to start a new streak after finishing the California trip with a 2-0 loss to Saint Mary's on Sunday. Two days earlier the Bison posted a strong 3-1 win over CSU Bakersfield for their sixth win of the season, one more than last year.
Chelsey Garkowski had two goals in the win over CSUB, and she was rewarded with Patriot League Brine Player of the Week honors on Monday. Garkowski now leads the team with nine points on three goals and three assists. Courtney Nelson is one point behind Garkowski, all coming on her team-leading four goals, while Cassie Denger has seven points on two goals and three assists. Liz Dwornik and Danielle Piccirilli also have a pair of goals, while Kayla Yee has three assists.
Sandita McDermott earned her second Patriot League Goalkeeper of the Week honor of the season on Monday. McDermott posted a 90-minute shutout against Mount St. Mary's last Tuesday, and she left the CSU Bakersfield game in the 74th minute with a 3-0 lead, allowing backup keepers Jessie Ashworth and Dana Calderone to make their collegiate debuts.
Canisius will have had a week off since posting a 2-0 road victory over Duquesne last Friday. Brianna Smith and Katie Griffin had the goals for the Golden Griffins, while Megan Tock made 10 saves.
Canisius' other win came at home against Cleveland State, 3-0, on Sept. 2, while its losses are against Northern Kentucky (2-0), Detroit (4-0), Buffalo (2-0), Youngstown State (4-0), Albany (4-3) and Akron (1-0). The Golden Griffins have been outscored 17-8 through eight games, with seven of their eight goals coming in the second half. Smith is their leading scorer with three goals, while Kelly McMahon leads the squad with three assists.
Tock has started seven of the eight games and has both wins to her credit. Brigid St. Leger has the other start, and she leads the team with an .818 save percentage.
In last year's meeting in Buffalo, Bucknell finished with a 22-8 shot advantage but fell 1-0 on Brooke Bandazian's goal in the 80th minute.
Following the Canisius match, Bucknell will have eight days off before hosting Patriot League preseason favorite Colgate on Sept. 29. Bucknell's six wins are the second-most among all Patriot League teams, trailing only 9-1 Navy. Colgate is just behind the Bison at 5-4-2. Those are the only three league teams with winning records so far.
