Month: March 2012

Categories
Men Sports Tennis

Men’s tennis falls to Navy

By Cooper Mead

Contributing Writer

The men’s tennis team took on Navy at home this past Saturday in a highly contested match but fell to the Midshipmen 4-3. The close loss marked the third time in a row that the Bison have lost to Navy by just one point.

“It was a tough loss because as a team we know we are capable of beating any team, including Navy,” Josh Katten ’13 said. “However, the upside is that we know what we need to do differently in order to beat them in the conference tournament.”

The team had a strong showing in doubles as partners Katten and Evan Zimmer ’13, who were playing together for the first time, defeated Chris Kenney and Marcus Rebersak. Partners Kelly Morque ’13 and Scott Bernstein ’14 then won the doubles point for the Bison, defeating Nicholas Gutsche and Blake Daniel 8-4. With the doubles victory, the Bison were able to clinch the doubles point for just the second time since 1953.

Despite their promising doubles victory, the Bison struggled in singles, losing four of six. Katten won his singles match against Blake Daniel (6-2, 7-5), giving him his fourth consecutive singles victory. Katten has also won seven of his last eight contests and, at 17-7, has won more singles matches than any other member of the team this year. Gregory Maxson ’12 also won his singles match at the No. 6 spot against Chris Kenney (6-2, 6-1).

The Bison did hold a slim 3-2 team lead, but Gregg Cohenca ’12 was defeated by Rebersak at the No. 1 spot (6-3, 6-4), and Kyle Rosen ’14 was defeated by Gutsche (6-4, 6-3) in tough matches, allowing the Midshipmen to pull ahead to and win the match 4-3.

“We got off to a great start winning the doubles point but Navy was just tough,” Aidan Lynch ’14 said. “We’re looking forward to seeing them again down the line. We’ll be ready.”

The Bison will take on Georgetown on Friday and will complete their previously postponed match against Mount St. Mary’s on Saturday.

Categories
Rowing Sports Women

Rowing opens season in N.J.

By Chris McCree

Sports Editor

The women’s rowing team opened up its spring season with a sixth and third place finish in two varsity races at the Murphy Cup this past Saturday. After placing first in its qualifying heat, the varsity “A” boat was 5:02.61 slower during the finals, finishing behind Navy, GW, Buffalo, Saint Joseph’s and Massachusetts.

“Our first race of the season was definitely a tough one. A lot of good teams compete at Murphy Cup each year, and this year was no exception,” Gabby Ors ’13 said. “Based on our training plan, I think our team did exceptionally well, putting not one, but two of our top eights in the grand and petite finals of the First Varsity Eight event.”

Along with the two varsity eight boats, the Orange and Blue had two novice boats medal at the event. The novice four boat edged out Colgate for first in its race, while the novice eight earned the silver behind Drexel.

“It was very exciting and we got to bring and race the whole team, which is always an experience seeing as we have over 60 girls rowing this year,” Sarah Riessen ’14 said. “I believe we performed very well and got some great racing experience under our belts for the coming season. Every boat was focused on their own race and was able to be very competitive in their heats and finals.”

Taking part in their first event since the end of October, the team will use this event as a launching point for the rest of the season as they look to earn their seventh consecutive Patriot League title.

“I’d say there are a lot of improvements to be made within individual boats, and we are still utilizing the first few weeks of the season to develop the lineups for the top two eights. However, I think the team as a whole is definitely ready and focused on making this season one of our best yet,” Ors said.

 

 

 

 

Categories
Softball Sports Women

Softball extends winless streak to six

By Thomas Walter

Writer

The women’s softball team extended its losing streak to six game this week, dropping four games to Cornell, Delaware State, and Drexel and lowering its record to 5-14 on the season. After losing a pair of contests at the Delaware State Tournament this weekend, the Orange and Blue lost both games of its doubleheader against Drexel 7-2 on Wednesday.  

In Delaware, the Bison’s two opponents combined for 17 runs over the four games, including nine extra-base hits and three home runs. Against Cornell, the Bison held the lead for most of the game, but two late home runs gave the Big Red a slim 9-8 victory. Leading by four in the bottom of the seventh, the Orange and Blue quickly surrendered a two-run home run to Erin Belles, cutting the lead in half. Then, minutes later, Erica Gaeta smashed a three-run homer with two outs, clinching the win for Cornell.

“We have played Cornell a lot in the past and they have always been a very competitive and well coached team and the fact that we did very well against then definitely helped our confidence going into this weekend,” Courtney Conover ’14 said.

Despite the loss, the Orange and Blue did see Bridget Gates ’13 go two-for-three with three RBIs, while Kristen Zahn ’15 and Meredith Dickson ’12 also recorded multi-hit games.

Later in the day, the Bison suffered their second loss to Delaware State 8-3. Unlike the Cornell game, the Orange and Blue trailed the entire game and could never seem to string together enough hits to put runs on the board. Overall, the Bison stranded 10 runners on base.

Against Drexel, the Bison continued to struggle offensively, producing just four runs off of six hits. Highlighting the day for the Bison was Nikki Silva ’15 who recorded her first career home run, breaking up a no-hit bid in the fifth inning. Mallory Lyons ’14 and Colie Escobar ’15 were the only other Bison players to record RBIs on the day.

“The most important thing in offense that we took away from this last weekend was to be patient and hit our pitches. The most important thing in defense is communication and to make every play count,” Mary Horton ’13 said.

Despite the slow start to their season, the Orange and Blue have a chance to turn things around as they head into Patriot League play this weekend. The Bison will host Colgate for a four-game series starting on Saturday at 1 p.m.

“The most important thing the team took away from this weekend to next weekend is to not let our guard down, especially in the late innings, and to take command of the games we know we can win and just have a lot of presence, control, and swag on the field,” Gates said.

 

Categories
Baseball Men Sports

Baseball earns three wins with split

Andrew Arnao

Staff Writer

The men’s baseball team went 3-3 over the past week, splitting a four-game series at Saint Joseph’s over the weekend and also splitting a doubleheader at home against Binghamton on Tuesday. The Orange and the Blue are now 12-11 for the season.

“The Saint Joseph’s series was very competitive, with three games decided by one run,” head coach Gene Depew said. “I think the biggest positive for us was that we got quality pitching throughout the weekend.”

Friday’s game against Saint Joseph’s was incredibly close, with the Bison taking the lead twice, but the Hawks managed to tie the score in the bottom of the inning both times. The Bison went ahead for good on a two-out RBI single by Robb Scott ’13 in the eighth inning, and finished the game with a 4-3 victory. Pitcher Dan Weigel ’14 pitched 7.2 innings to improve his record to 5-1, and Alex Cillo ’12 recorded his fourth save.

“We played very well defensively, and since most of our pitchers are not big strikeout guys, we rely heavily on the defense to make plays, which they have done very well all year,” Weigel said. “Shortstop Robb Scott also had a huge weekend, hitting over .500 including a game winning RBI single in game one while playing great defense all weekend.”

Games two and three on Saturday were both low-scoring, with the Bison winning game two by a final score of 4-3 and the Hawks winning game three 2-1. In game two, pitcher Ryan Ebner ’12 received four runs of support in the second inning and made it last, giving up only two runs over six innings. In game three, Bryson Hough ’15 threw a complete game while allowing only two runs, but the Bison offense was unable to back him up, scoring only one run on an error. The offense struggled again in game four, resulting in a 7-1 defeat.

“The pitching was overall very solid against St. Joseph’s this past weekend,” Hough said. “Even though the hitting was a little off this past weekend, we’re not particularly worried about it. I’ve seen our hitters do some amazing stuff in our past games, so I know it’s definitely there.”

The Bison won the first game of the Binghamton doubleheader 2-1 behind tremendous pitching from Russell Seidell ’12, who threw a complete game and gave up only one run. Infielder Will Mooney ’14 drove in the eventual winning run in the fifth inning. Binghamton managed to split the doubleheader by ending the second game in a 10-4 Bison loss.

The Bison have their first Patriot League matchup this weekend with a four-game homestead against Holy Cross, starting at 12 p.m. tomorrow.

“It’s an exciting part of the season for us as we head into Patriot League play this weekend,” Scott said. “It’s time to see what we’re made of.”

 

Categories
Featured Lacrosse Sports Women

Women’s lacrosse falls to American

By Ajan Caneda

Writer

Following an overtime victory against Liberty, the women’s lacrosse team was unable to pull off another comeback, falling to American 22-9 at home on March 24. The Eagles prevented the Orange and Blue from winning consecutive games for the first time this season.

The Bison’s leading scorer, Arriana Sajjad ’15, had another offensive showcase with five goals, while Molly Ford ’14 finished the game with four assists. Emily Kookogey ’15 and Katelyn Miller ’14 scored two goals each.

Both teams traded goals in the opening minutes of the first period, as the game stayed close. A 7-0 run by the Eagles allowed them to surge to an 11-4 lead at the half. American forced 13 turnovers in the first half, 18 for the game and stayed aggressive on the offensive end as they outshot the Orange and Blue 20-12 in the first period.

“Draw controls were a huge aspect of the game. In the second half, they pulled a six-goal streak on us, and it was all from winning the draw,” Sajjad said. “They knew exactly where the ball was going, where to place themselves on the circle and how to execute their break properly. This eventually caused our defense to break down, giving them the lead.”

After an American goal in the opening minutes of the second period, Sajjad posted two goals within two minutes that trimmed the lead to six with 23:20 remaining in the game. The Eagles responded with two goals of their own, but Miller answered with her second goal of the game. The offense of American was too much for the Orange and Blue to overcome, as the Eagles finished the game on an 8-2 run that capped the victory.

American outscored the Bison 18-15 in draw controls and had a 12 shot advantage against the Orange and Blue. Goalie Caroline O’Neill ’15 finished the game with seven saves.

“American worked around the crease really well, and were able to score goals off of tough angles,” O’Neill said. “I think our team has definitely improved greatly and even though the score didn’t show it, the game was really competitive. I think the main difference was the fact that American capitalized on our mistakes, while we did not.”

The Orange and Blue will be seeking their first conference win this Saturday, March 31 against Lafayette in Easton, Pa.

“In situations where we are down like in this game, you just have to keep reiterating positivity and heart, which is what we tried to do,” Sajjad said. “It was a tough loss, but we are preparing to come out strong for Lafayette on Saturday.”

 

Categories
Lacrosse Men Sports

Profile: Todd Heritage ’14

Eric Brod

Senior Writer

In the midst of just his second season as a member of the men’s lacrosse team, attackman Todd Heritage ’14 is already well on his way to establishing himself as one of the most complete players in program history. Just 10 games into the season, Heritage has a team-leading 28 goals while registering seven assists, giving him 35 points on the season.

With the Orange and Blue getting off to a slow 0-3 start in a season full of high expectations, Heritage’s recent strong play has been a major factor in the team’s seven straight victories to improve their record to 7-3 and 2-0 in league play.

“His greatest improvements can be seen in his strength and his off hand,” head coach Frank Fedorjaka said. “Todd is a natural lefty, and he has improved his stick skills with his RH and his shooting. He is one of the more accurate shooters in the country and he is now doing it with his RH as well. On top of that, he has improved his catching. He is always had unbelievable hand/eye coordination but I can’t believe some of the bad passes that he catches and turns into goals. He is amazing.”

Some of his most notable performances this year include his eight-goal outburst in the Bison’s 14-10 victory over Hobart for the team’s second win of the season and his three-goal, three-assist performance against league rival Lafayette that resulted in a 17-6 victory. While Orange and Blue fans know what Heritage brings to the team on the field, it is his leadership both on and off the field that may be most impressive as the season has progressed.

Heritage describes how his role has evolved on the team.

“This being my second year has helped me to learn the ropes much better,” Heritage said. “ I try as hard as possible to make sure I am setting good examples for my teammates and helping them out whenever I can and however I can, whether it be on or off of the field.”

As the team has continued moving up the national rankings, Heritage knows how important his role is to keep the team moving toward its goal of winning another Patriot League Championship.

“We have to keep playing both mentally and physically tough. We have done that the last six games that we have won and it is something we pride ourselves on he says. Every pre-game scouting report revolves around playing a perfect 60-minute game, and we know that it starts first when preparing in practice,” Heritage said. 

After knocking off No. 18 Penn State on March 27, Heritage and the rest of the Bison squad now look to extend their winning streak against Holy Cross tomorrow.

“We all have to remain mentally and physically tough,” Fedorjaka said. “Without question, that is our main focus. If we do that, we will continue to get better each game and that is our ultimate goal. Improvement from the last game to the next game. We are interested in peaking in May.”
Categories
Featured Lacrosse Men Sports

Bison extend win streak to seven, defeat Albany and Penn State

By Reed Dempsey

Writer

The men’s lacrosse team collected a pair of wins against Albany and No. 18 Penn State this past week to extend its winning streak to seven straight games.

Coming off five straight victories, the Orange and Blue entered the week looking like a different team and continued to play at a high level.

“The team has great morale right now. Following the three straight losses to start the season, we’ve played incredible,” goalie Kyle Feeney ’13 said.

In their game against Albany, the defense held the Great Danes to just seven goals in a convincing 15-7 win. 

Nick Gantsoudes ’12 led the Bison offense with six points (five goals, one assist), while Todd Heritage ’14 and Chase Bailey ’13 upped their season goal tallies with three apiece. David Dickson ’15 registered five assists, and Feeney increased his save percentage with a solid 12-save performance.

On March 27, the Bison faced a tougher test with a game against Penn State on the road. Over the first 14 minutes of play, the Orange and Blue held the Nittany Lions scoreless as goals by Billy Eisenreich ’12 and Heritage gave the Bison a two-goal advantage.

Less than a minute after Penn State cut the Bison lead in half, Peter Burke ’14 found the back of the net with four seconds remaining in the first quarter. The Nittany Lions battled back in the second quarter with three goals compared to just one from Bison.

Coming out of halftime tied at four, the Orange and Blue dominated the third quarter with two goals from Bailey and a single from Heritage, his second of the day. Bailey attributes the offensive success to efficiency and teamwork.

“The offensive play as of late has been awesome,” Bailey said. “The middies and the attack are working well together; we’re averaging more than 10 goals per game and we’re ranked by Inside Lacrosse as the most efficient offense in the country.”

To complement the scoring attack, the Bison defense stifled Penn State throughout the third, holding them scoreless on just two shots.

The speed of the defense coupled with better decision-making has been the difference as the Bison have turned their season around.

“[The defense] is flying around and making smart decisions, and it’s paying off,” Feeney said.

The Bison opened the fourth quarter with Burke’s second goal of the game and held the Nittany Lions of the board until the 10-minute mark. 

Over the final 10 minutes, the Orange and Blue were held to just one shot, but Eisenreich made the most of it, scoring his 23rd of the year.

An increase in turnovers and failed clears plagued the Bison in the fourth quarter, but solid defensive play during man-down and six-on-six situations held Penn State in check. Feeney tied his season high with 13 saves in the 9-6 win.

The Bison look to extend their 10-game in-league winning streak tomorrow at Holy Cross.

Categories
Headline News

Saying Goodbye

By Siobhan Murray

Writer

Chief and founder of the University’s Department of Public Safety Jason Friedberg will step down from his position at the end of this semester. After leading the Department of Public Safety for six years, Friedberg will leave to work for Visium Global, the company he started that specializes in security and security technology consulting services for higher education.

He will work with the University in a national search to find the next chief of the Department of Public Safety.
“I truly believe that the Public Safety department Bucknell has is unmatched by any private liberal arts campus in the United States,” Friedberg said. “The officers are dedicated and well-trained and the department as a whole is supported well by the administration.”
Before serving at this university, Friedberg was Associate Director and Captain at Franklin & Marshall College for three years. Friedburg has roughly 20 years of experience in security and law enforcement.
“While Bucknell has been an outstanding partner in the growth of safety and security on campus, I felt that I would be able to effect change on the national landscape in higher education in a more meaningful and timely manner through the efforts of Visium Global and therefore made the decision to leave Bucknell,” Friedberg said.
Before, the Public Safety Department was comprised of about seven unarmed officers without basic security technology or reporting-tracking software. Friedman transformed the department into a fully operational, full response law enforcement and security agency.
In addition to looking for Friedberg’s successor, the Department of Public Safety will continue to remain as present as ever on campus. This will involve engaging the campus by working with groups such as Bucknell Student Government (BSG), the Interfraternity Council, faculty and staff to improve town-gown relations. Public Safety also looks to leverage security techonology on campus to create a safer and more secure campus. Public Safety has outlined the security needs for the newly constructed areas of the campus.
The University will work to “maintain the bucolic feel of Bucknell while still providing the security needed to keep the campus safe,” Friedberg said.
“I think [Friedberg] has done a great job of strengthening relationships with both BSG and The Bucknellian, and I am sure his successor will do the same,” BSG President Sara Girmay ’14 said.
Categories
Featured News

ROTC: “…to serve my country, to have a greater appreciation for freedom, for the training and for the adventure”

By Christina Oddo

Writer

Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) is a national four-year program offered at the University designed to train cadets to become commissioned officers of the United States Army, the Army Reserve or Army National Guard. The University is a host school for Army ROTC.

Students currently enrolled at Bloomsburg University, Susquehanna University, Pennsylvania College of Technology and Lycoming College have the opportunity to participate in the program along with University students.

“The benefits of the program are that upon completion you are able to commission in to the Army as an officer at the rank of second Lieutenant. Also, there are a variety of scholarships available including two-, three- or four-year scholarships that can cover your tuition, housing, meal plan, books and you even get a little spending money with the stipend,” cadet Brian Charland ’13 said.
Charland got involved in the program during his junior year of high school when he started talking to and meeting with college representatives. 
“I decided to join Army ROTC to serve my country, to have a greater appreciation for freedom, [for] the training and for the adventure,” Charland said.

First-year students with scholarships and first- and second-year students without scholarships have the ability to enroll on a trial basis without committing to the military. Students can also leave the ROTC program or continue to earn a commission as an officer upon graduation. It is possible to join ROTC as late as the fall of junior year. If students take part in a 28-day summer training camp, they have the opportunity to skip the first-year and sophomore training levels.

First- and second- year cadets have a time commitment of five hours a week. Juniors and seniors then spend ten 10 hours a week for the program. During this required time, cadets take classes, train, attend monthly leadership labs and participate in semester field training exercise. Cadets have class once a week. This class is an hour for first-years, two hours for sophomores, and three hours for juniors and seniors. These weekly classes do not count for academic credit at the University. Cadets learn lessons in leadership, as well as army structure, values and communication. The ROTC program also requires cadets to take a 33-day summer training course between their junior and senior years.

“We also meet every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 0600 or occasionally earlier for physical training,” Charland said. “A Junior (MSIII) will take the role of platoon sargeant and lead the group through a series of exercises.  Twice a semester we are tested in an Army Physical Fitness Test (APFT) that makes sure we are meeting the Army standards.The test consists of two minutes of as many push ups as you can do, and two minutes of as many sit ups as you can do and a two mile run. Every couple of months we take a weekend and will go out into the woods and practice the skills we are learning in the classroom out in the field.”

Cadets also generally participate in day and night land navigation, squad training exercises, patrolling and battle drills.

Categories
News

Petrucci takes position with Phi Sigma Sigma

By Jenni Whalen

Senior Writer

Jackie Petrucci, Assistant Director of Residential Education for Sorority Affairs, will be leaving the University in a few weeks to begin a new job at Phi Sigma Sigma sorority headquarters in Elkridge, Md.
She will be serving as the Director of Chapter Services for Phi Sigma Sigma and will be responsible for all activities related to collegiate chapter services, including program development and implementation, as well as supervising staff and volunteers. Although Petrucci is not a member of Phi Sigma Sigma, she is excited about the new position.
“I believe in the sorority experience and believe that when it’s done right, it can transform your life,” Petrucci said.
Petrucci is sad to leave the University on such short notice, especially because she will miss her students and colleagues.
“This was a bittersweet decision for me,” Petrucci said, “but ultimately I made a decision that will advance both my personal and professional life. I have so many great memories from my time here at Bucknell.”
Although Petrucci’s absence comes at a busy time for the University’s sorority community, Associate Dean of Students Amy Badal will act as the contact for all sorority matters until a new hire is made. A national search will soon be underway, and the administration hopes the position is filled before fall’s recruitment season begins. Open Suites will still occur on Sunday, April 15 from 3 – 6:45 p.m. as previously planned.

When asked about the future of the University’s Greek system, Petrucci said she hopes the sorority system will continue to move forward in a positive direction. She has been influential in making changes to the sorority recruitment system, expanding the University’s Greek honor society, the Order of Omega, and eliminating the Plan for Prominence.

“During my time here, I have seen this community come so far and I have no doubt that they will continue long after I am gone,” Petrucci said. “I always hope that the women in our sorority community realize the power that they have as a collective group and will use that to influence the campus community in a positive way.”

Students, especially those within the sorority community, have expressed that Petrucci will be sorely missed.

“I’ve worked with Jackie in different settings, as a co-instructor of the transition to college course and as a member of Panhellenic. In every meeting with her, she has been approachable, understanding and hilarious. I have loved every minute of working with her (and her dog, Chloe!) and she will be greatly missed,” Clare Brogan ’12 said.

“Without question, Jackie Petrucci is the greatest thing that could have happened to the sorority and fraternity community at the University. She has worked tirelessly to create a better Bucknell for sorority members. Bucknell has only been bettered by her influence. We, as a campus community, with her encouragement, now have the courage to question and challenge the status quo, and the motivation to impact change not only within the sorority and fraternity communities, but also within the campus community. I wish her only the best as she continues her professional career,” Anne Sequeira ’12 said.
“Jackie has not only pushed both the Bucknell sorority and fraternity community to become more successful, responsible, and motivated, she has also served as a role model and source of support for every woman and man she has come into contact with. She is inspirational, strong, and incredibly talented, and her presence, laughter, leadership, and guidance will be sorely missed by myself and so many others,” Kate Domingues ’12 said.