Bucknell University Athletics
Field Hockey Hosts No. 13 Temple in Saturday's Home Opener
9/18/2014 2:18:00 PM | Field Hockey
LEWISBURG, Pa. – After five straight games on the road to open the season, the Bucknell field hockey team puts its four-game winning streak on the line when it hosts No. 13 Temple in the Bison's home opener on Saturday at Graham Field. The game is scheduled for 11 a.m. and will be webcast free of charge on Bison Vision on the Patriot League Network.
Temple (4-2) will be the second straight ranked opponent for Bucknell. The Bison, fueled by an overtime goal from Amie Pritchard, improved to 4-1 with a 1-0 win over No. 14 Princeton on Sunday. They recorded their third consecutive shutout, a feat the program hasn't accomplished since the 1999 season.
The Bison received numerous individual awards following a week which also saw them post a 4-0 shutout at Saint Joseph's. Pritchard was named the Patriot League Offensive Player of the Week, as well as the Bison Athlete of the Week. Shannon Keen was recognized as both the PL and ECAC Goalkeeper of the Week, while Liz Wills was selected as the PL Defensive Player of the Week just one week after being named the conference's top offensive player.
The Owls are coming off a 3-0 loss to No. 3 Maryland, their second defeat of the season to a top-five team. The other was a 3-0 shutout at the hands of No. 4 Duke. They bolstered their spot in the national polls with a 2-0 win over No. 10 UMass earlier this season and also hold a 6-1 victory over Rutgers, the only team to beat Bucknell this year.
Bucknell's loss to Rutgers in the season opener now seems like a distant memory. The Bison bounced back and have been one of the top teams in the nation defensively. They rank sixth in goals against average (0.78) and ninth in save percentage (.833).
First-year starter Shannon Keen has been impressive in goal for the Bison. The junior leads the Patriot League in goals against average (0.79) and save percentage (.833). Those numbers also rank her high nationally as she is currently eighth in both categories.
Temple, which holds a 4-1 lead in the all-time series, won last year's meeting 3-1 on its home field. Two current Bucknell players teamed up for the lone goal as Abby Watson scored off an assist from Cassie Lawrence.
Saturday's game is the first of a four-game homestand for the Bison. The stretch also includes games against American, Boston U. and Drexel. Every home game this season will be webcast on Bison Vision on the Patriot League Network.
