Field Hockey Travels to New England for Crucial PL Game with Boston University

LEWISBURG, Pa. – The Bucknell field hockey team heads to New England this weekend, making a stop in Boston for a crucial Patriot League contest with newcomer Boston University before traveling up to Durham for a non-league contest with New Hampshire. Free video and live stats of both contests will be available, as Saturday's 12 p.m. matchup with the Terriers will be broadcast on the Patriot League Network and Sunday's 2 p.m. game with the Wildcats will be streamed on America East TV.

The Bison clinched a spot in the 2013 Patriot League Tournament with a win over Holy Cross last Saturday, lifting them to 4-0 in conference play for the first time in the program's history and keeping them in a tie for first place with American. The squad will begin its battle for the right to host the tournament this weekend, as Bucknell needs to claim wins over both Boston University and American to earn the honor outright. The Bison will meet the Eagles in Washington D.C. next weekend to conclude the regular season.

Bucknell enters the weekend with an overall record of 8-7 after defeating Holy Cross 7-0 last Saturday and falling 2-0 to No. 8 Penn State on Sunday. Sophomore Abby Watson registered a hat trick against the Crusaders and earned Patriot League Offensive Player of the Week honors for her performance, keeping the award in Lewisburg for the third consecutive week.

Senior Rachel Misko leads the offensive charge for the Bison, ranking third in the league with 17 points scored on eight goals and one assist. Four of the top ten scorers in the league wear blue and orange, as Misko is joined by senior Leigh Hillman, Watson and sophomore Kiersten Sydnor on the list. Hillman has tallied 16 points on seven goal and two assists, Watson has compiled 14 on six goals and two assists and Sydnor's five goals and two assists give her 12 points. Misko also ranks first in game-winning goals, scoring each of her three in Patriot League action.

On the defensive side of play, senior Liz Wills has been a force for the Bison. She is part of a defense that shut out Holy Cross for the fifth consecutive season, holding the Crusaders to just one shot in the contest. Last Sunday she helped hold Penn State to two goals and 16 shots, batting several balls out of the air on the goal line. In addition, she has contributed two goals, three assists and seven points to the team's offense.

Senior Erica Perrine continues to perform as Bucknell's goalkeeper, ranking third in the Patriot League with a 1.82 GAA. She has allowed just 23 goals this season and has made 50 saves, including 11 against Penn State, giving her a .685 save percentage. As a team, the Bison are outshooting their opponents 179 to 116 and outscoring them 34 to 23.

Boston University sits in third place in the Patriot League standings with an overall record of 8-5 and a 3-1 mark in conference play heading into the weekend. The Terriers suffered their only league defeat at the hands of the American Eagles, falling 1-0 in overtime on Sept. 28. Most recently, the team defeated Lehigh 3-1 last Saturday before dropping a 5-1 decision to No. 4 Connecticut on Sunday. Bucknell and Boston University have played on just one previous occasion, with the Terriers earning a 5-0 win in August of 2011.

Amanda Cassera, who earned Patriot League Rookie of the Week honors after scoring two goals against the Mountain Hawks, is the team's biggest offensive threat with 14 points scored on seven goals. Sofi Laurito has added her ten points on five goals, while Anne Fruitema also has ten points, scored on four goals and two assists. Valentina Cerda has defended the Terriers' goal in each of their 13 games and, after making 66 saves and allowing 20 goals, she ranks second in the league with a 1.49 GAA and a .767 save percentage. As a team, Boston University is outshooting its opponents 194 to 142 and outscoring them 23 to 20.

Sunday's game with New Hampshire will be just the third meeting between the two teams, with the Bison and the Wildcats last playing on Oct. 26, 1985. New Hampshire won each of the previous matchups, and Bucknell looks to gain its first win in the series. The Wildcats are currently 7-6 overall and 1-0 in American East, but will play at Albany on Friday night before welcoming the Bison on Sunday.

New Hampshire most recently suffered a 3-1 loss to Syracuse last Sunday after earning a 3-2 overtime win over Maine last Friday. Meg Flatley is the team's top scorer, contributing 21 points on nine goals and three assists, while Megan Bozek has added 13 points on six goals and one assist. Casey Pohlmeyer is the team's most prolific helper, contributing seven assists to the offense.

Carlie Torbell has played every game in goal for the Wildcats, making 78 saves and allowing 33 goals for a 2.40 GAA and a .703 save percentage. New Hampshire is being outscored by its opponents 33-30, but the team is outshooting its foes 203-174.

Bucknell will follow up its weekend in New England with its final Patriot League regular season game of the 2013 season, as the Bison will head to Washington, D.C. on Saturday, Oct. 26 to take on the American Eagles.