Bison Set for PL Semifinal Matchup with American Friday at Boston University

GAME NOTES

Setting the Scene
What: #3 Bucknell (10-7, 4-2 PL) vs. #2 American (8-8, 4-2 PL) | Patriot League Semifinal
When: Friday, Nov. 2 – 2:30 p.m.
Where: New Balance Field (Boston, Mass.)
Watch Live: Patriot League Network
Live Stats: GoTerriers.com

About the Bison
• Bucknell is set to make its 11th straight appearance in the Patriot League Tournament, all coming during head coach Jeremy Cook's 11 seasons with the team.
• The Bison are the No. 3 seed after going 10-7 overall and 4-2 in league play this season, while the Eagles earned a No. 2 seed while also going 4-2 in the conference.
• Five Bucknell players earned All-Patriot League honors. Junior Olivia Harris, senior Lexi Quick, and junior Brittany Willwerth were picked to the First Team, while sophomore Sarah Dimock and senior Sally Olson made the Second Team.
• The Bison enter the postseason with wins in three of their past four games, beating Holy Cross 3-1, Lafayette 4-1, and Appalachian State 3-2. The lone loss came to nationally-ranked Penn State.
• Three Bucknell players – senior Nicole Rupnik, junior Marisa Morakis, and Quick – were voted to the Academic All-Patriot League Team. It was the third straight selection for Rupnik, the second for Morakis and the first for Quick.
• The Bison went 1-2 this season against the other teams in the conference tournament. They rolled to a 4-1 win over Lafayette, while both losses went down to the wire. They lost to American in overtime and Boston University in double overtime.
• Bucknell's final game of the postseason has been against Boston University in each of the past five seasons.

Scouting American
• American is 8-8 overall and 4-2 in the Patriot League after closing the season with a 5-1 loss to UConn. The Eagles lost four of their final five games, but three came against nationally-ranked opponents. The other was a 3-1 loss to Lafayette.
• Rafaela Rubas was named the Patriot League Offensive Player of the Year and Maura Jacobs was voted the Goalkeeper of the Year.
• Rubas and Jacobs were joined on the All-Patriot League Team by teammates, Noor Coenen, Megan Benson, and Rachel Stefano.

Series History with American
• Bucknell and American have played 31 times in a series that began in 1990. The Eagles lead the series 24-7, including a 1-0 overtime win in Lewisburg this season.
• Four of Bucknell's seven wins in the series have come during head coach Jeremy Cook's 11 seasons as head coach, including a 2-1 win in a shootout in the semifinal round of the 2017 Patriot League Tournament.
• Chloe Poltonavage, M.C. Evans, and Kaelyn Long all converted in the shootout to secure the win for Bucknell. Nicole Rupnik helped send the game to overtime, scoring the tying goal with 13:10 left in regulation.
• Junior goalkeeper Olivia Harris was outstanding in Bucknell's loss to American this season. She stopped all nine shots she faced in regulation and then added two more in overtime.
• Bucknell and American have played five times in the Patriot League Tournament. The Eagles lead 3-2, but the teams are tied 2-2 during Jeremy Cook's time as head coach of the Bison.

Up Next
• The winner between Bucknell and American will play the winner of No. 1 seed Boston University and No. 4 seed Lafayette in the championship game on Sunday at noon.

Bison Set for PL Semifinal Matchup with American Friday at Boston University

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Players Mentioned

Sarah Dimock

M.C. Evans

Olivia Harris

Kaelyn Long

Marisa Morakis

Sally Olson

Chloe Poltonavage

Lexi Quick

Nicole Rupnik

Nicole Rupnik

Brittany Willwerth