Author: Cooper Sutton

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Sports

Lucido ’11 reaches milestone victory

By Joyce Novacek

Writer

The women’s tennis team competed in Orlando, Florida over spring break, led by Lauren Lucido ’11 who now has the second most singles victories in Bison history. The Bison defeated South Dakota State (6-1) and Marist (6-1) but lost to North Dakota (6-1) and Drake (4-3). On Tuesday, they defeated Mount St. Mary’s (6-1) at home. The Bison now have a spring season record of 5-8.

“The week in Orlando was an overall positive training trip for the team as we began our outdoor match play,” Lauren Rottkamp ’11 said. “In each match, we worked on getting acclimated to the outdoor conditions. This trip allowed us to put to use all of the hard work and drills we had practiced during the indoor winter season. ”

By the end of spring break, Lauren Lucido ’11 had advanced to second all-time for singles victories. Currently, her singles record over her four years of playing is 80-35. The only Bison ever to earn more singles wins than Lucido is Tanya Sichko, who earned a record of 86-40 between 2001 and 2005.

After the home win against Mount St. Mary’s, where Lucido and Courtney Casey ’12 won at first doubles, Lucido has also reached second place for all-time combined wins, with a career record of 156-69.

The Orange and Blue dominated South Dakota State. In singles play, Lucido, Dumitrita Iepuras ’12, Rottkamp and Casey all earned straight-set victories. With this win, Rottkamp earned her 50th combined win in her career.

To earn the victory against Marist, the Bison swept doubles play, with Lucido and Casey winning first doubles, Daria Tuzhikova ’13 and Iepuras winning second doubles, and Dara Dwojewski ’11 and Elena Vidrascu ’14 winning third doubles.

“I believe that we did very well in Orlando given the fact that it was our first time playing tennis outside this year,” Iepuras said.

Although Lucido was the only Bison to earn a singles win against North Dakota, Iepuras and Dwojewski went to three sets. Against Drake, the Bison had more success in singles, with Lucido, Vidrascu and Dwojewski each winning, but it was not enough for the Bison to defeat the Bulldogs.

“Each match improved our confidence, physical strength, and mental toughness, which will help us succeed in the upcoming Patriot League play,” Rottkamp said.

The Orange and Blue will look to earn a pair of victories over the weekend when they travel to compete against George Mason tomorrow and open Patriot League play up with Navy on Sunday.

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Sports

Men’s tennis boasts impressive wins

By Eric Weiss

Senior Writer

Continuing from a great spring break trip when the Bison went 3-1, the men’s tennis team took down Mount St. Mary’s 6-1 in a dominating home performance.

Over spring break the Bison defeated South Dakota State (5-2), NJIT (5-2), and Boston University (4-3) with impressive matches by standout athletes on the team. Their only loss was to Liberty University as they fell 6-1. The most impressive match of the trip was a four-hour marathon played by Josh Katten ’13 that gave the Bison the winning match for their victory over Boston University.

“On the spring break trip we spent a lot of time together and this formed closer bonds between us,” Kelly Morque ’13 said.

In the match against Mount St. Mary’s the team cruised through doubles play as the first, second and third pairings won by scores of 8-1, 8-5 and 8-2.

The team showed poise throughout and never surrendered a key point that could break their momentum.

“We’ve been competing very well so far. Even if one of us is having a bad day and not playing well, we know our teammates will step up for us,” Morque said.

In singles play, the Bison won all but one of six matches as Evan Zimmer ’13, Kyle Rosen ’14, Mark Malloy ’11, Gregory Maxson ’12 and Katten all came away with victories. None of the players surrendered a set in their victories.

“We have done a very good job at staying positive on the court. Each of us is showing a lot of energy on the court, and that energy has spread throughout the team. By staying positive and focused during our matches, we have been able to beat some very tough opponents,” Malloy said.

This is only the beginning for the Bison as they aim toward their eventual goal of a Patriot League Championship. The road will be long before they get there, with many Patriot League foes standing in their way.

The Bison will be in action this Saturday when they take on George Mason. This match will be preparation for the opening of their conference schedule, the following day when they compete against Navy in Annapolis, Md.

“It is always important to get a lot of matches under your belt before conference play, because it allows for us to find the weaknesses in our games and work on them,” Malloy said.

 

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Sports

Water polo wins four of seven over break

By Scott Padula

Writer

The women’s water polo team improved its record to 9-8 by winning four out of seven games in its spring break trip to California. Through her strong, consistent play, Kandis Canonica ’11 became the player with the highest total points (360) in Bison history.

The Orange and Blue opened the trip on the right foot, defeating Concordia and La Verne. They lost three of their next four games, at the hands of Long Beach State, Cal State Northridge and UC Santa Barbara. The Bison wrapped up the week by bouncing back and defeating a resilient Cal State San Bernardino team.

The first game of the trip proved to be the most exciting as the Orange and Blue scored with less than a minute left to win the game. For the first three quarters, the game remained close. To open the fourth, Concordia scored three straight goals and tied the score at 11. The Bison answered by drawing an ejection with 48 seconds remaining. After calling a timeout, Mackenzie Ferry ’14 found Canonica for the go-ahead goal. The Orange and Blue held on to win the game 12-11. Canonica finished the game with two goals and two assists, sending her career point total to 360 and catapulting her past Aubrey Rowe for the program record.

In the night cap, the Bison defeated La Verne 15-5. The Orange and Blue dominated the Leos early and often, finding the back of the net 12 times in the first three quarters. The Bison also dominated on the defensive end, racking up a total of 13 steals. Ferry and Hallie Kennan ’12 each tallied four steals in the clinic.

“I think we definitely improved throughout our games during the week,” Kennan said. “We have become a much stronger force defensively. Our next goal, however, is to become more confident and active on the offensive end so that we can be a strong team all around.”

Over three of the next four games, the Orange and Blue fell to nationally ranked powerhouses Long Beach State, Cal State Northridge and UC Santa Barbara. The Bison were only able to defeat Marist 13-11 in this five-day span.

The Bison rounded out the week defeating Cal State San Bernardino 10-7. The teams remained close throughout as the Orange and Blue could not manage to pull away. The Bison were eventually able to hold on and clinch the victory thanks in part to stellar team defense. Seven different Bison registered a steal in the affair, and solid goal-tending from Brittany Connell ’12 and Rena Heim ’14 only helped the cause. The victory set the Bison record to 9-8 on the season.

The Orange and Blue’s next test will be on April 2 when they face nationally ranked foes Princeton and Michigan.

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Sports

Women’s lacrosse faces tough losses, goes 1-3

By Andrew Arnao

Writer

The women’s lacrosse team went 1-3 over the last two weeks, winning against Mount St. Mary while falling to Duquesne and Patriot League rivals Navy and Lehigh.

On the first Saturday of spring break, the Orange and the Blue faced Navy in their Patriot League opener and were handed at 17-7 loss. Madison Hurwitz ’13 led the offense for the Bison with four goals, while Katelyn Miller ’14, Andrea Feldman ’14 and Molly Ford ’14 scored a goal apiece. Goalie Alyssa DeLorenz ’11 made a career-high 19 saves, including 13 in the first half to keep the Bison in the game.

The following Wednesday, the Bison won their second game of the season by a score of 12-11 against Mount St. Mary’s. Ali Carey ’14 scored four goals in the first four minutes of the game, while team captain Julia Braun ’11 scored six goals. Hurwitz and Miller also scored goals.

“We came out to play from the first minute and never gave up till the game was over,” Carey said. “We did everything right all over the field, the defense had so many great stops, our transition was successful, our offense really executed the game plan and the energy from everyone was amazing.”

Against Lehigh last Saturday, the Bison were defeated 19-2 by the Mountain Hawks. Carey and Hurwitz had a goal apiece as the team managed only six shots on goal, compared to Lehigh’s 43. The Bison also struggled with turnovers, making 25 during the game.

“I truly think that everyone on the team gave their best effort and tried as hard as they could but nothing went our way,” Carey said. “We have an incredibly positive team so I know we will bounce back without a problem.”

The Bison played a strong second half against Duquesne on Tuesday but were unable to overcome a 10-point first half by the Dukes, falling by a score of 15-9. Miller scored four goals, Carey scored three goals, and Braun and Adrienne Wendling’13 scored one goal each.

“We came out a little flat but definitely turned it around in the second half to accomplish all of the goals that we set for ourselves before the game,” attackman Amanda Ayers ’14 said.

In the game against Duquesne, DeLorenz recorded her 600th save, making her the fifth goalie to do so in the history of the program. She is also currently the national leader in saves, with 129.

The Bison, now 2-8 on the season, will visit Patriot League rival American at 1 p.m. tomorrow.

 

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Sports

Men’s lacrosse remains unbeaten in league

By Eric Brod

Senior Writer

The Bison men’s lacrosse team posted a 3-1 record over the past week to improve to 6-2 overall and 2-0 in league play.

The team’s four-game winning streak came to a halt with a tough 7-5 loss against Robert Morris on Tuesday. The downfall of the team was even-strength play, where Robert Morris outplayed the Bison, but the Orange and Blue converted on three of five man advantage opportunities. After Robert Morris held a 3-1 halftime lead, the Bison rallied to tie the score at five, but Trevor Moore’s goal broke the tie with 6:40 remaining in the game and proved to be the game winner. Ryan Klipstein ’11 led the offensive attack with two goals. Uncharacteristically, the Bison struggled on faceoffs, winning only five of 16.

The team improved its league record to 2-0 with an 11-8 win over Lafayette on Saturday. The Leopards were able to jump out to a 2-1 lead in the first, but the Bison staged a furious 5-0 run that gave them a 6-1 lead by the second quarter. Lafayette responded with a rally of its own to close the gap to 6-5, but Mike Danylyshyn ’11 scored at 9:58 of the third to reestablish the team’s two-goal lead.

Billy Eisenreich ’12 and Klipstein led the offensive attack as each registered a hat trick on the day.

“A lot of this has to do with our leadership and all the hard work we have done,” Eisenreich said. “We are all confident that we have worked harder than every other team we have gone against, and with this in mind it seems that we have been more successful in close games as opposed to last year.”

The Orange and Blue dominated offensive play, outshooting Lafayette 39-24 with goalie Kyle Feeney ’13 making nine saves.

On March 16 the Orange and Blue got past Hartford with a hard-fought 7-6 victory. The Bison dominated the first half, establishing a 4-1 lead. Hartford came out of the locker room firing on all cylinders as they scored five straight goals to take a 6-4 lead with less than 10 minutes remaining in the game. The Bison were able to rally for three straight goals, led by Eisenreich and Charlie Streep ’12. Despite the closeness of the contest, the Bison dominated in the offensive zone, outshooting Hartford 40-22.

On March 12 the Orange and Blue overcame a resilient Hobart team en route to an 11-9 victory. Again, the Bison were the stronger team early on, scoring the first four goals and taking a 6-1 lead before Hobart rallied to close the gap to 6-5 at halftime. The second half was a back-and-forth affair with several lead changes before the Bison were able to hold on for the victory. Todd Heritage ’14 led the offensive attack with two goals and two assists.

“Chemistry has a lot to do with our success. On an offensive standpoint, the six starters along with a couple others are a very close group,” Eisenreich said. “We all work hard together every day, which draws us together. Our chemistry is only getting stronger by day and with this connection.”

The team returns to action Saturday at 1 p.m. with a home contest against No. 16 Albany.

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Sports

Baseball solid over spring break trip

By Chris McCree

Writer

The baseball team posted a 4-3 record during its seven-day spring training trip in Florida this past week. Facing off against the likes of Air Force, North Dakota State, Butler, Indiana, Massachusetts and Jacksonville State, the Bison  were able to go up against a wide variety of teams with differing playing styles and gain valuable on-field experience in preparation for their rapidly approaching regular season.

All around, the Bison played good baseball, recording 36 runs over the seven-game stretch and averaging just one error per game. The key to the Bison’s success came from their pitching game, in which they limited their opposition to five runs or less in five of the seven games and posted a team ERA of 2.81.

Trey Frahler ’11 started out the trip by pitching seven shutout innings during the Bison’s 5-1 win over Air Force. He was followed by three consecutive dominant performances by Dylan Seeley ’11, Jack Boehm’12 and Ryan Ebner ’12, who combined to go 2-0, allowing just two runs over 30.2 innings.

The two most exciting Bison wins came back-to-back against Butler and Indiana. During their matchup against Butler, the Orange and Blue offense exploded for nine runs in the first inning and dominated the entire game. A trio of Ebner , Taylor Runge ’13 and Jack McLinden ’14 put together the Bison’s first shutout performance since May of last year, leading the team to a 14-0 blowout over the Bulldogs.

The following day’s matchup against Indiana proved to be just as exciting, as Gerry Runyan ’12 launched a 10th inning home run to seal a 5-4 victory for the Bison. Going into the ninth inning, the Bison trailed 3-0, but they were able to put together a last-minute comeback to get the team in position for Runyan’s winning blow.

The Orange and Blue had more trouble during their final two games, losing 6-4 to UMass and 9-1 to Jacksonville State. Against UMass, the Orange and Blue entered the ninth trailing 6-0 and were able to score four runs, but couldn’t complete their second consecutive comeback of the series. Runyan recorded three hits in the contest and raised his batting average above .370, the only Bison to eclipse that mark this year.

Now, the Bison look ahead to their home season opener against Longwood this weekend. After playing all of their previous games on the road, the Bison will be home for 11 out of their next 13 games, including their Patriot League season opener against Lafayette on April 2.

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Sports

Softball struggles in two tourneys

By Lindsay Regruto

Staff Writer

The softball team traveled far and wide over spring break to the George Mason Tournament in Virginia, where they went 2-3, and the Rebel Spring Games in Orlando, where they went 2-6.

The Orange and Blue got off to a rocky start in the George Mason Tournament on Friday with a 5-1 loss to Binghamton and a 3-0 loss to Cornell later that day. Alison Ford ’11 singled with two outs in the third and was brought home on back-to-back walks for Bison’s only run against the Bearcats.

Day two of the tournament saw another pair of losses, 3-0 to Cornell and 1-0 to Binghamton. The Orange and Blue defense held the Big Red to three runs, but a strong pitching game by Cornell held the Bison scoreless for a close loss.

“I think our spring break trip really allowed us to continue working on some of the things that we’ve been struggling with,” Jessie Snyder ’11 said. “A lot of the girls really stepped up and it helped us come together even further as a team.”

Against Binghamton, the Bearcats were the first to put a run on the board. Lauren Fry ’11 ended the offensive dry spell in the fourth with a single up the middle but was left on base. The Orange and Blue loaded the bases twice in the fifth but again could not bring anyone around.

The Orange and Blue turned the tournament around Sunday defeating Cornell 4-1 and George Mason 3-1. Against the Big Red, the Bison racked up a season-high 11 hits. George Mason proved a tougher opponent for the Orange and Blue. Fry broke up the scoreless game in the fifth and eventually scored off a single by Ford. Fry had three two-base hits for a career total of 31 tying her for fifth in the program’s all-time record. Snyder doubled to center field to bring in two more runs in the sixth and a win over the Patriots.

Heading to Orlando, the team opened the Rebel Spring Tournament on March 15 with a pair of losses, 5-1 to Butler and 6-1 to Columbia. Sam Rollandi ’11 plated the Bison’s only run after a single by Meredith Dickson ’12. Butler scored twice in the first and again in the sixth to defeat the Bison. In the second game, Columbia took an early lead scoring in the first three innings. Caryn Connors ’14 was brought home in the fourth, but it would be the team’s only run.

The Bison split games on Wednesday, losing to Akron 8-6 and defeating St. Peter’s 8-0. The Orange and Blue were trailing 6-0 in the sixth against Akron when bats heated up. The Bison plated five runs, but the Zips answered with two runs in the seventh. Against St. Peter’s, Bridget Gates ’13 held off the Peacocks while the offense heated up. The Bison scored four runs in the third to bring the score to 5-0. Two more runs in the sixth ended the game early giving the Orange and Blue their first win of the tournament.

The Bison played again on Friday ending with a pair of losses to Green Bay 8-1 and Youngstown State 9-2. The Orange and Blue were the first to put a run on the board in the first inning against Green Bay. The Phoenix tied it in the second and pulled ahead for good in the third. Against Youngstown State, the Bison again gained a lead in the fourth but were unable to hold onto it. The Penguins tied it up later in the fourth and pulled ahead in the fifth.

The Orange and Blue split on the last day with a loss Fairleigh Dickinson 2-1 and a win over Hartford 3-1. The game against Fairleigh Dickinson remained scoreless until the sixth, when the Knights scored two runs. The Bison were only able to answer with one run. The Bison ended the tournament on a great note with a win over Hartford. Sophia Geraci ’14 went 3-3 at the plate, and Alex MacLean ’13 tied her season high of seven strikeouts.

The Bison will be back on the field tomorrow and Sunday at the Mount St. Mary’s Tournament in Emmitsburg, Md.

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Featured Sports

Bison defeat Lafayette to win Patriot League title

By Greg Stevenson

Senior Writer

The weight of a five-year title drought was lifted off the collective shoulders of the men’s basketball team when the Bison hoisted the Patriot League Championship trophy in the air March 11 in front of the third largest crowd in Sojka Pavilion history. The Orange and Blue defeated Lafayette 72-57.

“It was surreal,” Mike Muscala ’13 said after the Patriot League title game. “It was the best moment of my basketball career.”

Early on, Lafayette seemed poised to pull off another upset on the road in the Patriot League Tournament. Defensively for the Bison, the physical play of the Leopards’ Jared Mintz posed match-up problems. His 13 first-half points kept the Bison advantage to just five at halftime.

Normally the defensive stopper for the Bison, Bryan Cohen ’12 set the tone early for the Orange and Blue on offense, scoring the first six points for the team on its opening two possessions. After Cohen’s run, Muscala took over, contributing 13 of his team-high 18 points in the opening half.

In the second half, the stingy defense of the Bison prevented Lafayette from making an extended run and taking the lead. The inside presence of Muscala and Joe Willman ’13 limited Mintz to no field goals and just three points in the second half. Timely baskets down the stretch by G.W. Boon ’11 and Cameron Ayers ’14 gave the Orange and Blue the signature victory to cap off a historic season.

As the final seconds ticked off the clock, the thousands of orange-clad fans that had filled Sojka Pavilion stormed the court in celebration of a title five years in the making.

All 14 players as well as head coach Dave Paulsen advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the first time.

The three seniors, Darryl Shazier ’11, Boon and Stephen Tyree ’11, all of whom had been recruited by previous head coach, Pat Flannery, finally filled the shoes of past Bison who had won consecutive conference titles in 2005 and 2006.

For all three of them, it was their final game in Sojka Pavilion after an entire career of suiting up in a Bison uniform. But the memories from winning the title on their home court will never be forgotten.

“Winning the championship was absolutely unbelievable,” Boon said. “Hearing that buzzer sound off and seeing the crowd rush the court to celebrate with us was amazing. It was easily one of the most exciting and gratifying moments of my life.”

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Sports

Bison Biggest Fans: Cheerleaders

By Greg Stevenson

Senior Writer

With the Sojka Psychos standing just feet from the court for Bison basketball games, there is not much separating the fans from the players on the court. There is one group of Orange and Blue fans that sit even closer to the action—the Bison cheerleading team.

Every year, no matter the records of the Bison basketball teams, the cheerleaders come out in full force to support their school. The team brings enough energy to supply the entire Sojka Pavilion, even when over 4,000 fans are in attendance.

For most of the team, being a cheerleader means taking their school spirit to the next level.

“Being an enthusiastic and agile cheerleader combines my talent for dancing and performing with my love for basketball,” Mikaela Soto ’12 said. “It’s the most amazing way to be a part of the game and support the sport and the players I love to watch.”

“The best part of being a cheerleader is feeling like I am a part of something bigger than myself,” Sarah Jane Abbott ’12 said. “We get to support our Bucknell football and basketball teams and promote Bucknell pride and spirit in the entire student body.”

Although the squad is not officially a Division 1 team, it is still recognized by the University as a varsity team and still trains like any of the other Division 1 programs this school offers. The team practices between once and twice a week, and lifts two other days a week. But unlike other sports teams, the cheerleaders are in season for both the fall and winter, cheering once a week for the football team and often twice a week in basketball season.

This season, led by coach Megan Lindner and captain Melissa Fuller ’11, the cheerleading squad has had a much easier job than in years past. With the top-ranked men’s basketball team and a strong women’s squad, Sojka has been home to many Bison victories this year. Concurrent to the basketball team’s recent success, the cheerleaders have improved.

“This year we definitely stepped up our stunting game and fans are really noticing us — especially the Superman stunt with Sarah Jane,” Ashley O’Connor ’13 said. “That one’s the best.”

The cheerleaders’ success is impressive, mostly due to the number of newcomers they have on the team.

“The best part of this year’s cheerleading team is our new freshman,” Abbott said. “Every one of them works so hard and displays so much dedication and team spirit each and every day. It is a privilege to cheer with them.”

“This year’s squad is such a dynamic group of girls that it makes games fun and interesting for us,” Julie Cannon ’14 said. “We also support each other really well which boosts squad morale and makes all the time we have together very fun.”

In the end, though, the cheerleaders are no different than the rest of the Sojka Psychos in their love for the basketball team and the atmosphere of Sojka Pavilion.

“The best part of being a cheerleader is getting a front row seat for all of the games,” Cannon said. “Sojka Pavilion is such a great place to host games. Because the student section pans behind both baskets, it really makes the games fun to attend and fun for us to cheer for.”

For the cheerleaders and the rest of the Orange and Blue fans, the last game for the Bison this season will be Friday afternoon. Expect to see the cheerleaders give it their all while cheering for their team, just like they have all year, because Bison basketball is their passion.

“Being able to stand on the sidelines in Sojka Pavilion, the loudest arena in the Patriot League, as an integral part of the scene, I just can’t get enough,” Soto said. “Between the fan frenzy that surrounds us with orange and blue, and the tenacity that the team brings to the table — there’s honestly nothing like it.”

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Sports

Head Sojka Psycho: Brad Brown

By Greg Stevenson

Senior Writer

It is impossible to go to Sojka Pavilion for a Bison men’s or women’s basketball game without hearing the sounds of Brad Brown ’11, who has been dubbed by many as “The Sojka Psycho.” His spirited voice bounces off the walls of the arena and his energy is unmatched as he gets the fans to stand up and cheer.

Brown, who lives just down the road in Milton, Pa., said he has been watching Bison basketball since the games were played in Davis Gym. He has for nearly his entire life lived and died with every shot for Orange and Blue basketball.

“I am literally living a dream,” Brown said. “I love Bucknell and it is an honor to help showcase the collective spirit and passion that we as students have for our school.”

As a part of his job, Brown is charged with not only pumping up the Sojka Psychos, but also to give away free pizza and T-shirts to lucky fans. He is usually there 90 minutes before each game starts, to get himself and his energy ready for the two-hour game ahead. Getting ready usually involves putting on his orange wig and Bison basketball jersey, as well as rolling up shirts that will be thrown into the crowd.

But Brown’s job truly begins once fans start rolling into the gym. His exuberance and energy are contagious, and anyone who runs into him before the game starts can feel the emotion he has for Bison basketball.

The Sojka Psychos have fed off his energy and have packed Sojka Pavilion in droves. In the men’s basketball team’s final home game of the regular season, the eighth-largest crowd in facility history showed up to watch the Bison defeat Army to complete a 13-1 season in the Patriot League. The noise in the building that day was deafening, a good part of which can be attributed to Brown’s passion.

The student section has grown even more since the regular season finale for the Orange and Blue’s two Patriot League Tournament games, the rematch in the quarterfinals against Army and the semifinal contest with Lehigh. At certain points in the Lehigh game, the intensity of the Sojka Psychos made the entire building shake.

“The best part of my job is knowing that the crowd and its supportive energy can have an impact on the outcome of the game,” Brown said.

Brown’s omnipresence in Sojka Pavilion, just like this magical season that the men’s basketball team has been having, cannot last forever. When this semester ends, Brown will graduate from the University. His job as the Sojka Psycho still is in question.

“I would love to have the job after I graduate,” he said.

The Patriot League final against Lafayette tonight is a game that most fans have been waiting a whole year for. For the Bison’s most spirited fan, this may just be the game he has been wishing for his entire life.