Bucknell University Athletics
Women?s Soccer Hosts Navy In Key Patriot League Matchup
10/9/2015 10:54:00 AM | Women's Soccer
LEWISBURG, Pa. – With just five league matches remaining in the season, the Bucknell women's soccer team looks to stand among the leaders in the Patriot League when they host Navy on Saturday afternoon at Emmitt Field.
Bucknell is 2-1-1 in conference play, and is locked in a three-way tie with Loyola and Army West Point for second place in the standings with seven points. Two-time defending champion Boston University (3-0-1) leads the way with 10 points. The Bison will look to create separation against a Navy squad that holds a 1-0-3 league record for six points.
Saturday's contest features two of the top offensive players in the Patriot League this season. Kendall Ham and Clare MacAdam are tied with a league-best eight goals. Ham ranks second in points with 17 while MacAdam leads the conference with 19.
The Bison (6-5-2) went unbeaten last week, playing to a 2-2 tie at Lafayette last Wednesday, and winning a 2-1 decision against Colgate on Sunday. Ham and Alexis Gannon each found the back of the net in both contests. Ham totaled two goals and one assist to earn Patriot League Offensive Player of the Week honors.
Navy enters Saturday 7-4-3 overall and riding a seven-game unbeaten streak dating back to Sept. 13. The Midshipmen are coming off a 0-0 draw at Holy Cross last Sunday. Navy's lone conference victory this season came in a 1-0 verdict against Lehigh, while also tying Loyola and Army West Point.
Bucknell will be looking to snap a four-game losing streak against the Midshipmen, who lead the all-time series 15-8-1. In last year's meeting, MacAdam scored two goals en route to a 3-0 victory in Annapolis. The Bison last defeated Navy in a 1-0 decision in 2010.
Bucknell is undefeated in its five matches at Emmitt Field this season, outscoring its opponents 13-1 and posting four shutouts. It is the team's best five-game home start since 2008 when the Bison began 4-0-1.
On Saturday, Bucknell will honor the 1995 and 2005 women's soccer teams. The 1995 squad finished 10-6-1 overall and is the only team in program history to post a perfect regular season record in Patriot League play. The 2005 Bison went 11-9-1 that year, defeating Lehigh and Army in the tournament as a No. 4 seed to win Bucknell's second conference title and advance to the NCAA Tournament.
Following the game, the Bison face a pivotal stretch in the season, playing three games in seven days, beginning at American on Oct. 17.
