Two Nationally Ranked Foes on Tap for Bison Women's Lax this Week

Live Stats: Penn State | Johns Hopkins

LEWISBURG, Pa. -- The Bucknell women's lacrosse team faces two nationally ranked opponents this week, starting with No. 10 Penn State on Wednesday at Holuba Hall, the Nittany Lions' indoor facility, at 7 p.m. Then on Saturday, the Bison are slated to host No. 17 Johns Hopkins at Graham Field at 1 p.m.

Bucknell is off to a 1-1 start after splitting a pair of home games last week. The Bison opened the campaign with a 9-7 victory over preseason Northeast Conference favorite Wagner, then dropped a 12-8 decision to Manhattan on Saturday. Senior Emily Kookogey has carried much of the offensive load thus far. This week's Corvias Patriot League Offensive Player of the Week collected four points in each game and has seven goals and one assist on the season.

Freshman attacker Gretchen Richter logged a hat trick in the Wagner game and was picked as the Corvias Patriot League Rookie of the Week on Monday. Richter and sophomore middie Maddy Molinari both have three goals on the season, while junior middie Sam Rickels has two.

Sophomore goalie Elizabeth Duswalt has 16 saves and a .457 save percentage thus far. Sophomore defender Lucia Smircich leads the squad in caused turnovers with six.

Penn State has played just once in 2015, a 15-7 victory over Lehigh on Saturday. Steph Lazo scored five goals and Abby Smucker had three for the Nittany Lions. Goalie Emi Smith made 10 saves and earned Big Ten Co-Defensive Player of the Week honors.

This will be the 19th meeting between the two Central Pennsylvania squads, and the Bison will be looking for their first victory over Penn State. Last season in Lewisburg, the Nittany Lions won 21-9 behind five goals from Tatum Coffey. Kookogey scored three times and Bridget Shaffrey twice for Bucknell.

Johns Hopkins is also 1-1 on the season. The Blue Jays edged Marquette 8-7 in double overtime in Houston, Texas on Feb. 8, then fell 9-5 at home to Boston College on Saturday. The Blue Jays will host George Washington on Wednesday before traveling to Lewisburg for the first time.

Johns Hopkins went 15-5 and advanced to the NCAA Tournament last season, but the Blue Jays lost nearly 200 points to graduation. Dene' DiMartino and Alexis Maffucci have three goals apiece thus far. Goalies K.C. Emerson and Caroline Federico have split time in goal, combining for a 7.59 goals-against average.

The Bison and Blue Jays will be meeting for the third time in three years, and for the first time at Graham Field. Johns Hopkins captured the first two meetings 19-4 in 2013 and 19-7 last year at Homewood Field. Kookogey also had a hat trick in last year's clash with Johns Hopkins.

Bucknell remains at home next Wednesday to face Saint Francis (Pa.) at 5 p.m.