Women?s Soccer Hosts Loyola, Visits Lehigh In Pivotal Week

Bucknell vs. Loyola (10/21), 7 p.m. – Watch Live | Live Stats

Bucknell at Lehigh (10/24), 7 p.m. – Watch Live | Live Stats

LEWISBURG, Pa. – The Bucknell women's soccer team has three regular-season Patriot League games remaining, and two of them come this week when the Bison host Loyola on Wednesday, followed by a trip to Lehigh on Saturday. Both contests kick off at 7 p.m., and will be streamed live on the Patriot League Network.

Bucknell begins the week 7-5-3 overall with a 3-1-2 mark in the Patriot League. The Bison are unbeaten in their last five games, including a 1-0 victory at American last Saturday. Talia Szatkowski scored her first collegiate goal with time expiring in the first half to give the Bison the decisive tally en route to earning Corvias Patriot League Rookie of the Week honors. Kendall Ham and Jackie Ham were also credited with the assist on the goal.

The Bison are in sole possession of second place in the standings with 11 points, trailing only defending-champion Boston University (5-0-1), who has 16 points. Loyola (3-2-1) trails Bucknell by only one point, while Lehigh (1-3-2) trails by five.

Loyola (5-7-1 overall) is coming off a 1-0 victory against Army West Point to snap a two-game losing streak. Rosy Hayes found the back of the net in the 11th minute for her fourth game-winning goal of the season. Juliana Cabrera was named Corvias Patriot League Defensive Player of the Week for her efforts on the back line.

Hayes is the team's top point-getter, tallying seven goals and two assists for 16 points, which are fifth most in the conference. Charlotte Miller is second on the team in points with three goals and two assists for eight points. Goalkeeper Colleen Folan has appeared and started in all 13 contests, recording 47 saves and a pair of shutouts. The Greyhounds have been outscored 22-14 on the year.

Loyola is 3-2-1 in the all-time series, but has dropped their last two meetings against the Bison. Last season in Baltimore, Alexis Gannon and Kendall Ham each recorded a goal to lift Bucknell to a 2-1 victory. Jess Soldiviero scored the lone goal for the Greyhounds in the contest.

Lehigh enters Saturday following a matchup against Lafayette on Wednesday. The Mountain Hawks are 6-6-3 overall and have lost their past two matches, including a 3-0 loss at Boston University last Saturday.

Sabrina Mertz has scored seven of the team's 24 goals this year. Her seven goals and three assists for 17 points ranks third in the conference. Laura Courtney has posted three goals and two assists for eight points, while 10 other players have scored this season. Goalkeeper Ani Nahapetian has appeared and started in all 15 contests, posting a Patriot League best 89 saves.

Bucknell is 13-10-3 all-time against Lehigh and is unbeaten in its last two matches against the Mountain Hawks. The two teams played to a 0-0 tie last season in Lewisburg. Both Jessie Ainsworth and Nahapetian finished with eight stops apiece in goal.

Kendall Ham continues to lead the team in scoring with eight goals and two assists for 18 points. Gannon has tallied three goals and one assist, while Szatkowski, Maddie Mulford, Karli Cirovski and Devan Schulte share the team lead with two assists apiece.

The Bison remain unbeaten at Emmitt Field this season with a 5-0-1 record. Bucknell has kept the sheet clean in five of the six contests, and have outscored its opponents 13-1.

Bucknell will wrap up the Patriot League regular season on Halloween, when the team welcomes Army West Point to Emmitt Field. Game time is set for 12 p.m.