Field Hockey Heads to Colgate on Saturday with Chance to Make Program History

at Colgate -- Watch Live | Live Stats
at No. 10 Syracuse -- Live Stats

LEWISBURG, Pa. – With the field set for the 2014 Patriot League Field Hockey Tournament, all that's left to play for in the final two conference games are seeding and hosting rights. With a win at Colgate on Saturday morning, Bucknell can clinch at least a share of the regular season title and the right to host the conference tournament for the first time in program history.

Saturday's match is set for 11 a.m. and will air on the Patriot League Network. Bucknell will also play on Sunday as it travels to take on No. 10 Syracuse at 2 p.m.

The Bison enter the weekend with an overall record of 9-4 and are in first place in the Patriot League with a perfect 4-0 mark. The Raiders are 4-9 overall, but started 3-0 in the conference before a recent 4-1 loss to American dropped them to 3-1.

Bucknell stayed perfect in conference play with a come-from-behind 2-1 win over visiting Lafayette on Saturday. The Leopards took a 1-0 lead into the second half, but Kayla Sullivan and Kiersten Sydnor scored less than three minutes apart to give the Bison the lead. The Leopards had a penalty corner with no time remaining on the clock, but the lone shot they got off was blocked.

The Bison, which are 22^nd in the latest RPI rankings, have out-scored conference opponents 12-3 this season and will look to continue that success against a Raider team that head coach Jeremy Cook is 6-0 against since taking over in Lewisburg in 2008. The Bison have won by a combined 13-2 score in the past two games of the series.

Colgate brings a different defensive look than most of the teams on Bucknell's schedule. The Raiders play man-to-man defense, giving teams open looks if any of that coverage breaks down. It has led to goalkeeper Amanda DiDomizio leading the conference with 7.73 saves per game.

That should benefit Bucknell, which enters with the top scoring offense in the conference at 2.06 goals per game. The Bison, which also lead the PL with a 0.61 scoring margin, are led by Liz Wills, who ranks second in both points (16) and goals (7), and Kelsey Mucelli, who tops the league with six assists.

On Sunday, Bucknell turns its attention to its fourth nationally-ranked opponent of the season when it plays at Syracuse. The Orange are 11-4 with all four losses coming to nationally-ranked teams. They are led by Lieke Visser with eight goals and 14 assists.