Bucknell University Athletics
Witzal Named PL Faceoff Player of Week, Bison Lax Jumps into Top 20
2/22/2016 3:59:00 PM | Men's Lacrosse
LEWISBURG, Pa. -- The Bucknell men's lacrosse team is off to its first 3-0 start in nine years after its victory over Fairfield on Saturday, and the Bison have jumped back into the national polls with No. 20 rankings in both the USILA Coaches' Poll and the Cascade/Maverik Media Poll.
A big reason for Bucknell's fast start has been the team's success on faceoffs, and on Monday freshman Jarett Witzal was named Corvias Patriot League Faceoff Specialist of the Week on the heels of a 16-for-22 performance in the 13-8 win over Fairfield.
Behind Witzal and the "Spring-Ray" combo of poles Alex Spring and Matt Gilray on the wings, the Bison have won 66.2 percent of their faceoffs on the year. Witzal has converted 70.7 percent of his opportunities, which ranks 10th nationally, and in the Fairfield game he also collected a season-high seven ground balls.
Witzal's dominance at the X at Fairfield helped the Bison finish with decided advantages in shots (60-19) and ground balls (36-17). Gilray (7) and Spring (5) combined for 12 more ground balls in the game, and they now have 17 and 16 respectively on the season to rank among the top 35 nationally in that category.
This marks the 12th straight season that Bucknell has been ranked for at least one week in the USILA Coaches' Poll. The Bison are 3-0 for the first time since 2007, when they started 5-0 en route to an 11-win season.
Bucknell starts Patriot League play on Saturday at Colgate at noon.
