Bucknell University Athletics
Bison Tackle Towson, UMBC on Baltimore Swing
9/12/2013 11:06:00 PM | Women's Soccer
LEWISBURG, Pa. -- The Bucknell women's soccer team travels to the Baltimore area for a pair of matches this weekend, facing Towson on Friday at 4 p.m. and UMBC on Sunday at 1 p.m. The Bison are trying to shake a four-game losing streak, with the start of Patriot League play just another week away.
Bucknell is coming off a home loss to No. 13 Penn State on Tuesday. The Bison are now 2-4 after opening the campaign with consecutive wins over Rider and Mount St. Mary's.
The Bison are playing Towson in a regular-season match for the first time since 2009. The Tigers won that one 4-1 as part of James Madison's season-opening tournament, and they lead the all-time series 4-3. The two teams met in a preseason exhibition match prior to last season.
Towson is 3-2-1 so far and is unbeaten in its last three matches. The Tigers have wins over Duquesne and Mount St. Mary's and a 2-2 tie with St. Bonaventure in the month of September.
The Bison will have to find a way to slow down senior Emily Banes, who already has six goals and two assists this season. Katie Ponce, Sofia Read and Katlyn Axenfeld have two goals apiece for the Tigers, who have outscored their opponents 13-8.
Bucknell has a 6-2 lead in the all-time series with UMBC, including five straight wins. Evelyn Nicinski, Courtney Nelson and Corey Tipton all scored in a 3-0 victory over the Retrievers last season at Emmitt Field, with the first two goals coming in the opening 7:09 of the match.
UMBC hosts another Bison team, Howard, on Friday before Bucknell comes in on Sunday. The Retrievers are 2-2-2 on the year with wins over American and Robert Morris, draws with Loyola and Saint Joseph's and losses to Mount St. Mary's and Drexel.UMBC has been outscored 6-4 on the season and has had four different goal-scorers. Lilly Rydon has a goal and two assists for a team-best four points. Lauren Kadet has been solid in goal with 18 saves and the six goals against.
The UMBC game is Bucknell's final non-conference affair of the season. The Bison open up Patriot League play at home against Army on Sept. 21 at 2 p.m.
