Field Hockey Plays at Holy Cross on Saturday, at Columbia on Sunday

Setting the Scene
(Saturday, Oct. 15 – 11 a.m.)
What: Bucknell (5-7, 1-2 PL) at Holy Cross (6-5, 2-2 PL)
Where: Hart Turf Field (Worcester, Mass.)
Live Stats: GoHolyCross.com

(Sunday, Oct. 16 – 1 p.m.)
What: Bucknell (5-7, 1-2 PL) at Columbia (6-5, 1-2 Ivy League)
Where: Columbia Field Hockey Venue (New York, N.Y.)
Live Stats: GoColumbiaLions.com

About the Bison
* Bucknell is 5-7 overall and 1-2 in the Patriot League after splitting games against Boston University and Yale last weekend. The Bison fell 2-1 to the 15^th-ranked Terriers, but bounced back with a 1-0 win over the Bulldogs the following day.
* Senior Estelle Palandjian scored the game-winning goal two minutes into the second half against Yale. Junior Emily Finn made four of her five saves in the final 13 minutes of the game to record her second shutout of the season.
* Sophomore Nicole Rupnik scored the Bison's lone goal in the game against Boston University. It was her team-leading sixth goal of the season.
* Bucknell has played a difficult schedule this season, and the proof is in the numbers. The Bison's seven losses have come to opponents that are a combined 45 games over .500 with a record of 67-22. Six of the seven teams are in first place in their respective conferences, while the seventh is nationally-ranked Boston University.
*Bucknell's last four games have been decided by one goal. The Bison have had seven one-goal games this season.
* The Bison have made the Patriot League Tournament in each of head coach Jeremy Cook's eight seasons with the team.
* Thirteen of Bucknell's 19 goals have been scored by freshmen and sophomores.
* Sunday marks the Bison's second game at Columbia's field this season. They beat Quinnipiac 3-2 in overtime in a neutral-site contest.

Scouting Holy Cross
* Holy Cross is 6-5- overall and 2-2 in the Patriot League after posting a 2-0 upset win over Lafayette. The Crusaders also have a league win over Colgate and losses to American and Lehigh.
* Freshman Marcia LaPlante is the reigning Patriot League Goalkeeper of the Week after stopping five shots in the shutout against the Leopards.
* The Crusaders were picked to finish fifth in the Patriot League Preseason Poll.
* Maureen Connolly leads the Patriot League in both goals (10) and points (24).

Scouting Columbia
* Columbia is 6-5 overall and 1-2 in the Ivy League after a 6-0 loss to No. 12 Princeton.
* The Lions are 3-1 at home this season.
* Columbia is the highest scoring team in the Ivy League, averaging 3.67 goals per game.
* Katie Ruesterholz leads the Ivy League in goals (10) and points (26).

Series History with Holy Cross
* Holy Cross leads the all-time series 19-12. The teams first met in 1985.
* Bucknell has won the past seven meetings by a combined score of 32-2.
* Nicole Rupnik scored twice and Emily Goodloe had one goal in the Bison's 5-2 win over the Crusaders last season.
* Amy Mucelli scored in Bucknell's 7-0 win in 2013.

Series History with Columbia
* Bucknell leads the all-time series 6-4. The teams first met in 1996.
* Columbia has won two straight, beating Bucknell 2-0 in 2012 and 3-2 in 2010.
* The Bison's last win was 4-3 after a shootout in 2009.

League Notes
*American leads the conference with a perfect 3-0 record in league play.
* Boston University (2-1) and Lafayette (2-1) are second and third, while Lehigh and Holy Cross are currently tied for the fourth and final spot in the Patriot League Tournament at 2-2.
* Bucknell is 1-2 in league play, but has already played the top teams in the conference (American and Boston University). The Bison have a win over Lehigh.

Up Next
* Bucknell hosts Lafayette for a league game on Saturday, Oct. 22, and Lock Haven for a non-conference matchup on Sunday, Oct. 23.