Bucknell University
James Madison
Season Preview: Field Hockey Opens Season at Home Friday
8/28/2019 2:50:00 PM | Field Hockey, General
Setting the Scene, Part I
Who:Â James Madison (0-0) at Bucknell (0-0)
When:Â Friday, Aug. 30, 4Â p.m.Â
Where:Â Graham Field, Lewisburg, Pa.
Live Webstream: Patriot League Network | Tips on watching games on the PLN
Live Stats: BucknellBison.com Â
Setting the Scene, Part II
Who: Bucknell (0-0) at Lock Haven (0-0)
When: Sunday, Sept. 1, 1 p.m.
Where: Charlotte E. Smith Field, Lock Haven, Pa.
Live Video: YouTube.com
Live Stats: GoLHU.com
About the Bison
-Head coach Jeremy Cook enters his 12th season at Bucknell carrying the second-most coaching wins in program history (105). Under Cook the Bison have qualified for the Patriot League Tournament each of the last 11 seasons and captured a regular-season title in 2014
-Bucknell's roster is made up of six newcomers and 18 returners. Among the returners are three members of the 2018 All-Patriot League team -- forward Brittany Willwerth, goalkeeper Olivia Harris, and midfielder Sarah Dimock.
-Brittany Willwerth and Chloe Poltonavage were selected as team captains for the 2019 season.
-Bucknell was picked to finish fourth in the Patriot League Preseason Poll. Boston University was picked first with 10 first place votes.
-Accompanying Cook on the sidelines are two new assistant coaches in Heather Schnepf and Kelsey Briddell. Schnepf was an All-American at Iowa before making stops at Drexel and Kent State. Briddell put together a standout career at the University of Albany, and also has experience playing with the United States National Team as well as playing overseas.
-The Bison scrimmaged East Stroudsburg and Kent State last week.
About the James Madison/Series History
-James Madison ended its 2018 campaign at 6-12 with a 2-4 record within the Colonial Athletic Association.
-The Dukes suffered an 8-1 loss at the hands of #14 Delaware in the first round of the CAA Championships.
-JMU's roster features eight freshman and 14 letterwinners, including 2018 leading scorer Rachel Yeager.
-The Dukes are led by head coach Christy Morgan, who totals 14 seasons at the head of JMU field hockey. Morgan captured an NCAA Championship at JMU in 1994 before taking a 15 year hiatus from the team. She returned to Harrisonburg in 2014.
-The Dukes have been victorious in the only two meetings between the teams, including a 3-0 defeat of the Bison in Harrisonburg last season.
-JMU faces one other Patriot League team this season in American University.
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About Lock Haven/Series History
-The Bald Eagles went 9-9 in 2018, including a 2-1 record against Patriot League opponents.
-Last season, Lock Haven head coach Pat Rudy became one of only two coaches in the history of collegiate field hockey to collect over 600 all-time wins.
-Junior Kayla Brathwaite was named to the Atlantic 10 Preseason All-Conference team. Brathwaite recorded two goals and eight assists in 2018.
-Bucknell and Lock Haven have faced one another in 39 consecutive seasons. The Bison hold a 10-26-2 all-time record against the Bald Eagles, but have claimed victories in each of the last three meetings, including a 3-2 win at Graham Field last season.
-Lock Haven's Mackenzie Farley and Katie Supey, as well as Bucknell's Kaelyn Long each scored during last season's meeting.
-The Bald Eagles were picked to finish fifth in the Atlantic 10 this season.
Next Up
Bucknell travels to Richmond, Va. for matches against the VCU Rams and Richmond Spiders. The Bison pulled out wins against both Atlantic 10 schools last season. Those games will be played Sept. 7 and 8, respectively.
2019 SEASON PREVIEW
When Bucknell field hockey opens the 2019 campaign at home on Friday, they'll be led by 12th-year head coach Jeremy Cook. With a pair of fresh assistants beside him, Cook is looking to add to his 105-game win total, which ranks second all-time at Bucknell.
Along with the coaching additions, the Bison have six newcomers who will join 18 returners from last season. Last year's group paved their way to 10 wins and an 11th consecutive trip to the Patriot League Tournament before falling to American by a single goal in the semi-final round.
This season Cook believes the attitude of his players could help carry them further. "Our group culture is really strong this year. The team leadership is just very supportive and positive. They're really supportive of each other and of the freshmen," said Cook.
Since graduating six seniors in the spring, the team has built a new identity centered on speed and agility that Cook believes suits the incoming class, and many of the newcomers are expected to hit the ground running with significant playing time.
"The freshmen fit the new mold of smaller and faster quite well, and with the upperclassmen being so supportive of them I think we're poised to see some pretty serious contributions from freshmen," said Cook.
Kayla Kisthardt and Noor Kaur are the new faces among the midfielders. Kisthardt, a four-time All-State selection out of Allentown, Pa., is expected to see a heavy workload thanks to the speed she brings to the position.
Alina Arko, Maddie Rehak, and Mackenzie Kile make up the freshmen forwards. Also a smaller and quicker group, Cook says it's just a matter of when and where the trio sees minutes behind a strong group of returners.
Lastly among the freshmen is goalkeeper Clara McCormick. The Pittsburgh, Pa., product went 12-1 as a senior at Shady Side Academy while recording seven shutouts. McCormick is one of three goalkeepers on Bucknell's roster.
"It's a tough thing to jump into a college environment and play your own game," Cook said. "It's really easy to get sort of lost in trying to adjust. All of them are doing such a great job of just going for it and letting the chips fall where they may while we tidy up the edges and get them closer to playing our style."
The biggest change, Cook believes, will be at the center back position where Sally Olson maintained a defensive presence throughout her senior season in 2018. Sophomore defender Erin Zielinski has been tabbed as Olson's replacement in the starting lineup after appearing in five games last season.
"She's super smart, very composed with the ball, and doesn't get rattled easily at all," said Cook. "She's definitely smart and a student of the game. It's just going to look a little bit different coming out of the back."
Other returning defenders include Sam Chanzit, who started 13 games each of the last two seasons before missing time due to injury, and Kaelyn Long, who tallied three goals in 13 starts in 2018.
The Bison's midfield/forward positions feature two of the three returning All-Patriot League players in Brittany Willwerth and Sarah Dimock. Willwerth finished third in the league with seven goals and ranked second with eight assists in 2018. The senior out of New Holland, Pa., enters this season on the Preseason All-Patriot League list. Dimock was a Second Team All-Patriot League selection last season and has yet to miss a start since joining the Bison in 2017.
The returning midfielders also bring a wealth of experience, with seniors Allie Christopher, Marisa Morakis, and Chloe Poltonavage totaling 120 career starts between them. Poltonavage was named a captain for the 2019 season along with Willwerth.
Senior goalkeeper Olivia Harris returns for a second full season in goal for the Bison. Harris was a 2018 All-Patriot League honoree after starting all 18 games and earning 10 wins.
"She played a big part last year and kept us in a lot of games. It was just a really good performance last year and so we're expecting that again this year. We're excited to have her back," said Cook. The Chappaqua, N.Y. native posted three shutouts and maintained a .735 save percentage last season. Behind Harris is sophomore goalkeeper Peyton Fischer.
Following the season opener at home with James Madison, the Bison hit the road for three consecutive away matches. When they return to Lewisburg on Sept. 15, the Bison will take on #18 Syracuse as the first of three opponents currently ranked in the top 25. Other notable home contests include an Oct. 30 matchup with #9 Penn State and a Nov. 2 Senior Day and season finale against Holy Cross.
Bucknell was picked to finish fourth in the 2019 Patriot League Preseason Poll. Picked ahead of the Bison were Lafayette at third, American in second, and Boston University in first with 10 first-place votes. Just behind Bucknell was Lehigh in fifth, followed by Holy Cross, then Colgate.
