Bucknell University Athletics
Field Hockey Kicks Off 2015 Season with First Preseason Practice
8/13/2015 4:26:00 PM | Field Hockey
LEWISBURG, Pa. – Less than a year removed from winning the first outright Patriot League regular season title in program history, the Bucknell field hockey team turned its attention to the 2015 campaign as it opened preseason practice at Graham Field on Wednesday.
“We felt really good about last season. We weren't able to seal the deal in the final game, but we played great,” said Bucknell head coach Jeremy Cook, who was named the Patriot League Coach of the Year last season. “I think that's the direction the program is headed. Every year we make gradual progress and pick up our tempo. The fitness gets a little better and the basic skill gets better from the student-athletes coming in. Building off that success is more of a long-term goal rather than a single-season goal, but we are really looking forward to this year.”
In addition to the skill level of his incoming players, Cook was also pleased with the team's conditioning, both of which gave him the opportunity to move further along in the playing structure than in years past. That is important for a team that lost five seniors, all of which were starters and four of which made the All-Patriot League Team, and begins competition in less than three weeks.
The Bison, who went 13-6 overall, 6-0 in the Patriot League and made the conference's championship game last season, will have their work cut out for them in a scrimmage at Syracuse, the national runner-up a year ago, on Aug. 17. Their first official game of the season will be on the road against Rutgers on Aug. 28, and their first home game of the season will be against Monmouth on Aug. 30.
