Sept. 2, 2010
LEWISBURG, Pa. -- The Bucknell women's soccer team played some good soccer last week on the road, and now the Bison will try to pick up where they left off as a busy stretch of home action starts this weekend with games against Duquesne and No. 24 Rutgers at Emmitt Field at Holmes Stadium. The Bison will face Duquense Friday night at 7 p.m., then the Scarlet Knights come to town on Sunday at 2 p.m.
The Bison (1-2) are coming off a strong showing in Columbia, S.C., last weekend. Playing at the Gamecock Courtyard Cup, Bucknell topped a strong Ohio team 1-0 in the tournament opener, then competed well in a 2-0 loss to Louisville in what amounted to the tourney championship.
Head coach Ben Landis has challenged his team with a tough early schedule, and that continues this weekend. Bucknell has already faced teams from the Atlantic 10, Mid-America Congerence and Big East, and now the Bison will square off against the A-10 and Big East again this weekend.
Rutgers (2-1) has been ranked as high as No. 17 in the nation this season, but the Scarlet Knights dropped seven spots to No. 24 after absorbing a 1-0 loss to Monmouth last weekend. Rutgers will host Princeton on Friday before traveling to Lewisburg. Duquesne, which defeated Bucknell in overtime in Pittsburgh last season, is 1-2-1 on the season following a 2-1 loss to Towson on Sunday.
Friday's game will be North Union United Night at Emmitt Field. Members of the NU United girls' teams will be guests of the Bison and will be recognized at halftime.
Starting this weekend, Bucknell will play its next three straight and seven of its next 10 games at home. That stretch takes the Bison all the way up to the start of Patriot League play against American on Oct. 2.
Coverage
- Click HERE for GameTracker coverage of the Bucknell-Duquesne game. 
- Click HERE for GameTracker coverage of the Bucknell-Rutgers game.
Series Notes
- Bucknell has a 3-2 series lead in five all-time meetings with Duquesne. The Dukes won the inaugural meeting 3-0 in 1998, but the Bison came back with three straight wins in 1999 (1-0), 2000 (2-1 in OT) and 2006 (3-0).
- In last year's game in Pittsburgh, Samantha Kaiser scored with three minutes remaining in double overtime to give Duquesne a 1-0 win. The Bison played without Patriot League Offensive Player of the Year
Christa Matlack and starting goalkeeper
Kathryn Sutton, both out with injuries.
Colleen Garrehy subbed for Sutton and finished with 10 saves.
- Bucknell and Rutgers have met three times previously, all in Piscataway, with the Scarlet Knights prevailing in all three. Rutgers won 3-2 in 1995, 2-1 in 2007 and 4-1 in 2008.
- In the most recent meeting in 2008, Bucknell was two days removed from a thrilling 3-2 victory at Maryland, and the Bison scored first on a
Nicole Marotta goal against Rutgers. But the Bison ran out of gas, and the Scarlet Knights scored the game's final four goals, two coming from Caycie Gusman. Gina Demaio had three assists for Rutgers.
Bison Notebook
- Junior forward Megan DeGennaro was named Susquehanna Valley Limousine Bison Athlete of the Week on Monday. DeGennaro's goal in the 73rd minute provided the winning margin in Bucknell's 1-0 win over Ohio last Friday in South Carolina.
- Colleen Garrehy made six saves against the Bobcats en route to her third career win and second career shutout.
- The Bucknell defense also received a big lift from the return of senior center backs Amanda Citron and Kelsey Johnson. The veteran duo missed the season opener at St. Bonaventure with injuries.
- Junior defender Casey Crowley saved a goal in the Ohio game by clearing a shot off the line.
- Coach Ben Landis used every healthy field player in the Ohio game.
- The Bucknell-Louisville game was a battle for the championship of the Gamecock Courtyard Cup. The Cardinals opened with a 1-0 win over No. 13 South Carolina. Against Bucknell, Louisville scored once in each half to win 2-0.
- Trailing 1-0, the Bison twice came very close to scoring but could not finish. Less than a minute after the second chance, Louisville countered and scored the insurance tally.
- Sandita McDermott played all 90 minutes in goal as Landis split his keepers for the weekend. McDermott finished with seven saves.
- DeGennaro, Kelliann Doherty and Caitlin Holtz earned all-tournament honors. - Patriot League Preseason Offensive Player of the Year Christa Matlack remains Bucknell's scoring leader after posting a goal and an assist in the season opener against St. Bonaventure.
About Duquesne
- The Dukes come in with a 1-2-1 record. Their lone win came last Friday at home against Marist (2-0). Duquense played crosstown rival Robert Morris to a 1-1 draw, and its losses have come against Saint Francis (Pa.) (3-1) and Towson (2-1).
- Duquesne's five goals have come from five different players. Paige Maroney and Kristin Vinicky both have three points on a goal and an assist. Vinicky's goal came on a penalty kick.
- Lauren Ott leads the Dukes with 10 shot attempts, but she has yet to score.
- Gabby Morrin has started three of the games in goal and has 16 saves with four goals against. Ashley Szalwinski played against Towson and made five saves in the 2-1 loss.
- Duquesne went 7-11-0 overall and 4-7-0 in the Atlantic 10 last season. Nine starters are back in 2010.
About Rutgers
- The Scarlet Knights open their season with four straight home games, capped by Friday's home encounter with Princeton. In their first three games, Rutgers produced convincing wins over Stony Brook (3-0) and Colgate (4-1), but then suffered the 1-0 setback to Monmouth last Sunday.
- April Price has a pair of goals, while Stefanee Pace, Gina DeMaio, Jonelle Filigno, Julie Lancos and Merissa Smith have one each. Ashley Jones has the team's only assist so far. Both of Price's goals came against Colgate.
- DeMaio, a senior midfielder, is on the watch list for the Hermann Trophy.
- Emmy Simpkins has handled the goalkeeping chores. She has only been required to make three saves in 270 minutes, while allowing two goals.
- Rutgers has outshot its opponents 58-9 so far.
- Rutgers began the year ranked No. 18 in the NSCAA/adidas poll, moved up to No. 17 after one week, then slipped to No. 24 after the loss to Monmouth.
- The Scarlet Knights were picked second in the Big East National Division preseason poll, trailing only defending Big East champion Notre Dame.
- Last season Rutgers went 14-4-4 overall and 7-1-3 in the Big East. The team lost 1-0 to South Carolina in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
Looking Ahead
- Following this weekend's action, the Bison are home again on Wednesday night against Binghamton at 7 p.m. The Bearcats are 0-2 on the season heading into home games with Delaware State and Delaware this weekend.
