Bucknell Field Hockey Plays No. 2 Michigan for NCAA Semifinal Berth

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. – Sunday will mark six weeks since Bucknell field hockey's last loss. Six weeks ago, Bucknell suffered a 4-0 loss at Lehigh which dropped the team to 0-3 and near the bottom of the Patriot League standings. The Bison allowed 10 goals over the first three weeks of the campaign, and the unprecedented spring season looked like it would be a dud. In the six weeks that followed, however, the Bison have given up a total of six goals and have won six games in a row – one shy the program record for consecutive victories.

The sixth win, a 2-1 double-overtime triumph over VCU on Friday, was a special one as it gave Bison field hockey its first NCAA tournament victory in the program's first-ever appearance.

Now, in the first weekend of May, Bucknell is preparing to face the No. 2 team in the tournament. The Bison will have their work cut out for them when they take on the Michigan Wolverines on Sunday. Michigan finished the regular season 13-2 overall and 6-0 in the Big Ten. Should the magical Bucknell run continue, the Bison will become the first Patriot League team to reach the NCAA semifinal round and will have a date in Chapel Hill next Friday.

Setting the Scene: NCAA Tournament Quarterfinal
Who: Bucknell (6-3, 3-3 PL) vs. No. 2 Michigan (13-2, 6-0 Big Ten)
When: Sunday, May 2 at noon
Where: University Park, Pa. – Penn State Field Hockey Complex
Streaming: NCAA.com
Live Stats: NCAA.com
Tournament Central

About the Bison
• Bucknell is one of eight teams remaining in the NCAA Field Hockey Tournament following a 2-1 win over VCU in the first round on Friday. After falling behind 1-0 in the second quarter, the Bison tied the game in the third and scored the game-winning goal with 13.5 seconds left in the second overtime. Bucknell was the first team to defeat the then 9-0 Rams this season.
• Bucknell is just the second Patriot League team to win a first-round game in the tournament. American has two first-round victories.
• Friday's game was the third in a row that Bucknell has gone into overtime and the team's fourth overall overtime game this season. The Bison are 4-0 in games that go beyond regulation this season.
• Junior Mary Kate Stefanowicz was the hero for the Bison on Friday, scoring both goals to lift the team to victory. They were the first two goals of her career.
• Rookie Rachel Apa is now Bucknell's points leader (7) this season after adding an assist on the game-winning goal on Friday. It was Apa's third assist of the season to go along with a pair of goals.
• Sophomores Noor Kaur and Mackenzie Kile also posted assists on the game-tying goal. Both second-year Bison have a pair of assists each this spring.
• Bucknell was outshot 17-7 on Friday, and penalty corners were 6-4 in favor of the Rams. Kayla Kisthardt, Megan Keeney and Leah Fogelsanger joined Stefanowicz with shots on goal.
• Senior Kaelyn Long posted her second defensive save of the season against VCU on Friday.
• Bucknell goalkeeper Clara McCormick brought her goals-against average (1.11) down even lower on Friday after giving up just one goal to VCU. The sophomore made seven saves, and just once she's allowed more than one goal over the past six games.
• Head coach Jeremy Cook is now just nine wins shy of becoming Bucknell's all-time winningest head coach. He reached 120 career wins over 13 seasons with Friday's win.

Scouting the Wolverines
• Michigan secured the No. 2 seed in the NCAA tournament after claiming the Big Ten Championship at 13-6 overall and 6-0 in the conference. Michigan defeated Ohio State 4-0 in the title game and received a bye during the first round of the NCAA tournament.
• The Wolverines have won 10 games in a row, outscoring opponents 24-2 during that stretch. Michigan's two losses were to #4 Northwestern and Iowa.
• Michigan has posted nine shutouts this spring.
• Michigan is averaging 13 shots and 2.07 goals per game. Sophomore Sarah Pyrtek leads the team with 15 points on six goals and three assists.
• Michigan junior Anna Spieker has started 14 of 15 games at goalkeeper and sports a 0.41 goals-against average. She's allowed more than one goal just once during a 3-2 win over Northwestern back on March 20.

Series History with the Wolverines
• Bucknell has faced Michigan twice in program history. Both meetings were under Coach Cook in 2011 and in 2012. The Wolverines were ranked No. 14 in the country during the 2011 meeting and won 5-0 in Ann Arbor. Michigan ranked No. 17 in 2012 and won 2-0 over the Bison in Lewisburg.
• The Wolverines outshot Bucknell 11-5 in the 2012 meeting, while Bucknell held a 3-1 edge in penalty corner opportunities.
• Stefanowicz's sister, Kelly, started in the last meeting between Bucknell and Michigan.

Up Next
With a win on Sunday, Bucknell would advance to the NCAA semifinals, hosted at Karen Shelton Stadium in Chapel Hill, N.C. Bucknell would face the winner of Sunday's quarterfinal game between No. 3 Louisville and UConn on Friday, May 7 for a chance to reach the NCAA Championship game.

Bucknell Field Hockey Plays No. 2 Michigan for NCAA Semifinal Berth

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Players Mentioned

Rachel Apa

Leah Fogelsanger

Noor Kaur

Megan Keeney

Mackenzie Kile

Kayla Kisthardt

Kaelyn Long

Clara McCormick

Mary Kate Stefanowicz