Field Hockey Set for Season's Final Two Home Games

LEWISBURG, Pa. – The Bucknell field hockey team looks to solidify its postseason chances as it hosts Holy Cross for a Patriot League matchup on Saturday at Graham Field. The Bison will also host Penn in their final home game of the season on Sunday. The team's five seniors will be honored prior to Sunday's game. Both contests will be shown free of charge on the Patriot League Network.

Bucknell is 6-7 overall and 2-1 in the Patriot League after a 3-1 loss at Lafayette on Saturday and a 2-1 win in overtime at Temple on Sunday. The Bison currently hold the fourth and final spot in the conference tournament, while Holy Cross sits one game back at 1-2.

Kiersten Sydnor scored the game-winning goal against Temple, her team-leading seventh score of the season. She is tied with Melissa Maher (1998-01) and Rachel Misko (2010-13) for ninth in Bucknell history with 25 career goals. She has 57 career points and needs just four more to tie Susan Lenker Hitchings for 10^th all-time. Hitchings is the mother of current Bucknell player Emily Hitchings, who had a go-ahead goal in the second half of the win over Temple. Her three goals have all been important this season. The first two came in the second half of a 2-1 win over California.

Freshman Nicole Rupnik had the lone goal in Bucknell's loss at Lafayette, continuing her impressive rookie campaign. She is second on the team with five goals, which ranks fifth among the league's freshmen.

vs. Holy Cross | Saturday, 11 a.m. | Live Stats | Watch Live
Holy Cross is 6-7 overall after a 6-1 loss to Boston University and a 5-1 loss to Cornell last week. The Crusaders rank second in the Patriot League averaging 2.31 goals per game. Individually, Maureen Connolly is sixth with 16 points on six goals and four assists. Emily Loprete is right behind her with 15 points on seven goals and one assist. Megan Inch has been solid in goal with a .670 save percentage.

Holy Cross leads 19-12 in the all-time series, but Bucknell is 6-1 under Jeremy Cook. The Bison have won six straight games against the Crusaders, outscoring them 27-0 during that stretch. The Crusaders began a new coaching regime this season and their six wins are already their most since 2008.

vs. Penn | Sunday, Noon | Live Stats | Watch Live
Penn lost its first game but has won nine straight since then, including a 5-0 win over Lafayette and a 3-2 win in two overtimes over Dartmouth last week. The Quakers are a solid all-around team as they lead the Ivy League in offense at 3.59 goals per game and are second in defense at 1.80 goals per game. Alexa Hoover is their go-to player. Her 47 points are 22 more than anyone else in the league and have come on 21 goals and five assists. Elizabeth Hitti leads the conference with 11 assists.

The series between Bucknell and Penn is tied at 2-2. The Bison have won each of the past two meetings, 2-1 in 2013 and 1-0 in 2014.