Bison Field Hockey Set for NCAA Tournament Matchup with VCU Rams

LEWISBURG, Pa. – For the first time in the 48-year history of the Bucknell field hockey program, the Bison are headed to the NCAA Tournament after winning the Patriot League Championship on Saturday. It's been a remarkable season for the team, which has seen its ups and downs since opening the campaign on March 7. After beginning the unprecedented 2020-21 spring season with three consecutive losses, the Bison won five games in a row over some of the top teams in the conference to get to where they are now.

Bucknell will face VCU in the first round of the tournament on Friday. The Rams emerged as the Atlantic 10 champions with an undefeated season and will also be making their first appearance in the tournament. It will be the fifth all-time meeting between the two programs, and the Bison hold a 3-1 edge in the series. Bucknell and VCU are familiar foes after facing one another in each of the last two seasons.

With a win on Friday, Bucknell will advance to the quarterfinal round of the tournament to face No. 2 seed Michigan on Sunday, May 2.

Setting the Scene: NCAA Tournament First Round
Who: Bucknell (5-3, 3-3 PL) vs. VCU (9-0, 6-0 A-10)
When: Friday, April 30 at noon
Where: University Park, Pa. – Penn State Field Hockey Complex
Streaming: NCAA.com
Live Stats: NCAA.com
Game Notes
Tournament Central

About the Bison
• Bucknell is set to make its first-ever appearance in the NCAA Field Hockey Tournament on Friday. The Bison received an automatic bid to the tournament after winning their first Patriot League Championship against Boston U. last weekend and will be one of 12 teams competing for a national title.
• Bucknell's road to the NCAA tournament wasn't easy, as the team opened the season 0-3. The Bison were outscored 10-1 in the first three games, including back-to-back 4-0 losses. The team bounced back and won five consecutive games by one-goal margins. Three of those victories went beyond regulation. Bucknell won 2-1 in a shootout against American in the Patriot League semis, then captured a 2-1 win over the Terriers in overtime in the championship game.
• Senior Kaelyn Long was named the Patriot League Tournament MVP after scoring the game-winning goal against the Terriers. She also attempted a team-high 16 shots in the tournament. Long, a two-time All-Patriot League selection, is tied for the team lead with two goals and two assists this season.
• Sophomore Kayla Kisthardt and junior Erin Zielinski also made the All-Tournament Team. Both assisted on Bucknell's fourth-quarter goal that tied the game against the Terriers. Zielinski has played nearly every minute this season and averages 63 minutes per contest.
• Kari Melberger is one of several rookies that have made a massive impact on Bucknell's season. Melberger scored the game-tying goal against Boston U. in the championship for her second score of the season. She was named the Rookie of the Week in Bucknell's first week of play back in March. Fellow rookies Rachel Apa, Olivia Bush and Gugulethu Sibanda all have points as well this season. Apa is tied for the team lead with six points on two goals and two assists. She also converted in Bucknell's shootout in the semifinals.
• Also earning All-Patriot League recognition this spring were seniors Sarah Dimock and Leah Fogelsanger. Dimock has started all eight games and assisted on the championship-sealing goal. Fogelsanger led Bucknell in points last season and scored the game-winning goal in the second overtime during Bucknell's regular season win over American.
• After rotating goalkeepers early in the season, sophomore Clara McCormick took over the starting job during Bucknell's fourth game of the season, and the Bison haven't lost since. McCormick sports a .814 save percentage and one shutout. She was twice named the Patriot League Goalkeeper of the Week during the regular season and was named to the All-Tournament Team after totaling 10 saves and allowing two goals in the two postseason games. McCormick has a 1.18 goals against average this season.

Head Coach Jeremy Cook
• Jeremy Cook is in his 13th season at Bucknell and owns a 119-115 career record, including a 45-28 record in Patriot League play. Cook is 10 wins shy of becoming the program's all-time winningest head coach.
• Cook and the Bison put together a 6-0 league record in 2014 and finished 13-6 overall with a loss to Boston U. in the title game.
• The Bison reached the Patriot League Championship game five times under Cook (2008, 2011, 2014, 2017, 2021), winning their first title this season. Bucknell has advanced to the championship every third season under Cook.
• Cook was named the Patriot League Coach of the Year in 2014.
• Cook has coached players to 56 All-Patriot League honors, three Scholar-Athletes of the Year, one Goalkeeper of the Year, and 13 All-Region selections.

Scouting the Rams
• VCU is undefeated at 9-0 and captured its first Atlantic 10 Championship on Saturday with a 2-0 win over Saint Joseph's. The Rams faced all Atlantic 10 teams this season with the exception of a 3-2 win over Old Dominion in their season opener. Three of VCU's wins came against Richmond.
• VCU ranks fourth in the country in goals against average (0.53), third in save percentage (.853), and sixth in scoring margin (1.79).
• The Rams posted five shutouts this season, including two in the conference tournament. VCU's goalkeeper, junior Sasha Elliot, was one of eight Rams to earn All-Atlantic 10 honors. She ranks in the top 5 nationally in save percentage and goals against average. Elliot was also named the Most Outstanding Player in the Atlantic 10 Tournament.
• Junior Janne Wetzel was named the Atlantic 10 Defensive Player of the Year, and midfielder Bridget McCormick earned Rookie of the Year status.
• VCU head coach Stacey Bean was voted the Atlantic 10 Coach of the Year. Bean is in her fourth season with the Rams after spending nine as the head coach at Saint Francis (Pa.).

Series History with the Rams
• Bucknell leads the all-time series 3-1 against VCU. The teams previously met in 2019, 2018, 1996 and 1995. Bucknell won the two most recent meetings, while the Rams took the win in 1996.
• Bucknell won 2-1 over the Rams last season on the road. Brittany Willwerth scored both Bucknell goals, and Kaelyn Long registered one assist. The Bison won 3-2 at home in 2018.

All-Time Meetings with VCU
1995 - W 3-1 (h)
1996 - L 2-3 (OT) (a)
2018 - W 3-2 (h)
2019 - W, 2-1 (a)

Next Up
With a win on Friday, Bucknell will advance to the quarterfinal round of the NCAA Field Hockey Tournament to face second-seeded Michigan in University Park, Pa. on Sunday, May 2.