OPENING DRAW
After watching its modest three-game win streak snapped in the capital District Tuesday by UAlbany, Colgate looks to get back to its winning ways as it hosts Marist Saturday afternoon and then has another mid-week game scheduled at Binghamton, Tuesday evening in Vestal. The meeting with the Red Foxes will be the fifth ever game played between Colgate and Marist, while Tuesday's clash will only mark the third such meeting between the schools separated by 64 miles.
THE PROGRAM
Colgate started its women's lacrosse program in 1974. Since its inception, it has posted a 318-218-4 overall record; won four Patriot League titles and advanced to the NCAA Tournament four times as well. The Raiders posted their 300th victory in the program's history with a 19-18 victory over Marist in a 2008 NCAA Tournament Play-in Game. Colgate notched a 17-4 record in the 1979 season, which stands as the most wins in a single season. The 2009 squad finished with a 14-5 overall mark, which set a school record for wins in a single season during the Division I era.
THE HEAD COACH
Heather Young, the 2009 Patriot League Coach of the Year, enters her fourth year at the helm of the Colgate program. Since being named the head coach prior to the 2007 season, she has piloted the program to a 35-32 record; back-to-back Patriot League titles and NCAA Tournament berths. In 2009, her squad defeated Navy 17-4 in the Patriot League title game and eventually finished 14-5 overall. The Raiders ranked among the nation's top 10 as a defensive unit as well as boasting a top 15 scoring offense. In her three-years in Hamilton, Colgate has had 16 all-league selections – nine first team and seven second team mentions; two second team all-region honorees, as well as the 2009 Patriot League Defensive Player of the Year – Maddie Kearns. Young has a career record of 50-63, which includes a three-year stint at Davidson.
LAST TIME OUT
Courtney Miller posted two goals and two assists and Meghan Lawler scored three times, but it wasn't enough as Colgate fell at UAlbany 12-7, Tuesday evening. The Raiders spotted the Great Danes the game's first four goals before roaring back with three consecutive to pull within 4-3. That was as close as the game ever got as Albany countered with the last four goals of the opening half to gain a five-goal lead at intermission. Colgate was outshot 31-22. Christina Roa made 14 saves in the loss.
COLGATE AT A GLIMPSE
The Raiders head into Saturday's game with a 4-5 overall mark. Colgate's offensive attack focuses on three – Meghan Lawler (16-19-35), Colleen Bubnack (18-8-26) and Courtney Miller (16-2-22). Katie Sullivan (9-2-11) and Kate Bergstrom (8-2-10) close out the double figured point producers for the Raiders. Christina Roa (4-5, 97 saves) has played every minute in net, absent three. All four of the Raiders' wins thus far have been close – Stony Brook (10-9), American (11-9), George Mason (9-7) and Holy Cross (14-13). Five of their nine games have been determined by two goals or less.
SERIES VERSUS MARIST
Colgate has won all four previous meetings with the Red Foxes, including a 15-9 victory in Poughkeepsie last April. This is a re-match from the 2008 NCAA Play-In game as Colgate prevailed 19-18 to move on to play second-ranked Penn in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
MARIST IN BRIEF
After the six five games, the Red Foxes are 2-4 overall and that includes most recent 14-7 loss at Vermont. Marist, which will be looking to snap a four-game losing skid Saturday, has a balanced scoring attack with Jori Procaccini (11-4-15), Amanda Tuck (10-1-11), Kelly Condon (6-5-11), and Lauren Ciccarello (5-5-10) leading the way. Alyssa Littin (2-4, 36 saves) had played the majority of time in the net. The Red Foxes opened the season with a pair of wins over Lafayette (15-12) and LeMoyne (10-8). There are no common opponents, but Marist has played two future Colgate opponents in Lafayette and Florida. The Red Foxes dropped a 22-3 decision to the Gators in Gainesville.
ALL-TIME SCORING VERSUS MARIST
Four current Raiders have posted points versus Marist in previous games. Meghan Lawler (9-8-17) has tallied 17 points in four meetings, while Colleen Bubnack (7-2-9) has faced the Red Foxes three times. Courtney Miller (3-0-3) and Kate Bergstrom (1-0-1) are the remaining scorers versus Marist.
LAST TIME VERSUS MARIST
Colgate scored the first five goals of the first half and did the same in the second half en route to a 15-9 victory over Marist. Meghan Lawler posted a goal and five assists to lead the offense, while Brie Moran posted a seven-goal, eight-point effort. Colgate built its largest lead at 14-5.
BINGHAMTON IN BRIEF
The Bearcats are off to a 0-4 start to the 2010 campaign, among which includes a recent 12-10 loss to Monmouth. Binghamton plays LeMoyne and Boston U before Tuesday's meeting with the Raiders. The Bearcats are led in scoring by Beth Moore (12-0-12), Lis Zuern (8-2-10) and Ali Castiglie (5-2-7). Lauren Scott has played most of the time in net and has 49 saves.
ALL-TIME SCORING VERSUS BINGHAMTON
Four Raiders have posted points against the Bearcats in previous match-ups. Colleen Bubnack (3-7-10) has faired pretty well in the two previous meetings, while Courtney Miller (4-0-4) did well in her first game versus Binghamton. Meghan Lawler (2-0-2) and Alex Kuntz (1-0-1) round out the scorers.
LAST TIME VERSUS BINGHAMTON
Colleen Bubnack scored twice and dished off five assists and Courtney Miller found the back of the net four times as Colgate downed Binghamton 13-8 at Tyler's Field. The Raiders trailed twice, but scored seven of the final eight goals in the opening half and the first two in the second half en route to the victory. Christina Roa saved 10 shots in her collegiate starting debut.
IN THE CREASE
Christina Roa made 14 stops in Tuesday night's loss to Albany. It marked the sixth time this season and fourth in the last five games that the sophomore net minder has posted 10 or more stops in a game. Roa recorded a season-high 15 in a loss at #19 New Hampshire. Her career record is 18 set last season at Lehigh. The sophomore ranked eighth nationally in total saves and 14th in saves per game prior to the game at Albany.
RECORDS WERE MADE TO BE BROKEN
By controlling the opening draw control in the victory over Holy Cross, Colleen Bubnack broke the career draw control record at Colgate. Her win moved by current Colgate assistant coach Heidi Ross for the top spot in the program's history. The former Raider standout posted 108 draw control wins from 2003 to 2006. Bubnack, who has 113 draw controls now, has the top two single-season bests in draw controls including setting a school record 50 in the 2008 season. Sophomore Courtney Miller is on pace to snatch that single-season record of Bubnack's set in 2008 as she has 30 in the first nine games.
LENDING A HELPING HAND
With her two helpers in the win versus Holy Cross, Meghan Lawler moved a bit closer to second on the all-time assist list at Colgate. Entering this weekend, the senior has 61 helpers in her career, which stands third overall. Next up, Judi Conry, who amassed 67 in her career between 1986-89. Teammate Colleen Bubnack has 51 assists in her career, which ranks ninth. She is four assists away from moving into a tie for seventh with Angela Chongris and Kara Keenan.
TOP 10 SCORER
With her combined nine points versus Holy Cross and Albany, Meghan Lawler moved within three points of overtaking Kara Keenan for ninth on the all-time point list. She moved into 10th with a five- point effort in the home opener versus Cornell passing former teammate Ashley Didio. The senior has 107 goals and 61 assists for 168 points. She needs five more goals to move into the top 10 in that category at Colgate. In the latest national rankings, she was tied for 21st overall in total points, tied for 35th in points per game, tied for sixth in total assists and 10th in assists per game heading into the Raiders' clash at Albany.
PRESEASON TOP DOGS
Colgate received seven first place votes en route to being tabbed as the preseason pick to win the Patriot League once again. The Raiders collected 66 points in the poll to outdistance Navy and Lehigh by seven points. The Midshipmen and Mountain Hawks tied for second with 59, while Bucknell checked in with 40.
