Bucknell University Athletics
Jarett Witzal Wins Another Patriot League Weekly Award for Faceoff Play
4/18/2016 3:43:00 PM | Men's Lacrosse
LEWISBURG, Pa. -- Bucknell freshman Jarett Witzal earned his third Corvias Patriot League Faceoff Specialist of the Week Award in 2016, and his second in as many weeks, after another strong performance in the Bison's 14-7 victory over Lafayette on Friday. Witzal went 11-for-17 with six ground balls, helping Bucknell clinch a Patriot League Tournament berth for the 10th year in a row.
Witzal won the first three draws of the night, with help from wings Alex Spring and Matt Gilray, allowing Bucknell to jump out to a 4-0 lead before Lafayette even attempted its first shot. The Bison would go on to pile up a commanding 36-17 advantage in ground balls.
For the season, Witzal is now 133-for-219 (.607) at the faceoff spot. The 133 wins are fourth-most in Bucknell history, 30 shy of Jake Clarke's school record set in 2009. Witzal is also trying to join Clarke as the only Bison to fashion a faceoff percentage over 60 percent. Clarke had a .617 mark in 2010.
Witzal ranks 16th nationally in faceoff percentage, with four of those ranked ahead of him also coming from the Patriot League.
The Bison are now 8-4 overall and 4-3 in the Patriot League. They host Lehigh on Friday night at 7 p.m. at Christy Mathewson-Memorial Stadium. Home-field advantage for the Patriot League Tournament quarterfinal round is riding on the outcome.
