By Joyce Novacek

Contributing Writer

The field hockey team clenched its first victory this season and established a two-game winning streak in a pair of home games this week. The Bison field hockey team shut out Cornell on Saturday and Towson on Sunday with scores of 3-0 and 4-0, respectively.

Earning their first win against the Big Red, the Bison got off to a tremendous start when Rachel Misko ’14 netted her first career goal less than three minutes into the game.

About 10 minutes later, co-captain Kelly Bruvik ’11 scored an unassisted goal, propelling the Bison to a two goal lead. With this impressive score, Bruvik tallied her 18th career goal, putting her into a tie for 13th-place on the all-time career goals scored in program history.

Bruvik reflected on the victory compared to the team’s previous losses.

“The Cornell game was different in that we collectively played great hockey for an entire 70 minutes. For the first time this season, we really focused on our own offensive and defensive goals instead of adjusting our style of play based on our opponent,” she said.

Unrelenting despite their two-goal lead, the Orange and Blue drew a corner with five seconds remaining in the first half. Christine Weiss ’11 executed the penalty corner and scored, sending the Bison into halftime with momentum that carried them into a strong second half. Weiss’ goal was assisted by Mallory Smith ’12 and Corinne Raczek ’11, who is now three assists away from tying the school record for career assists, currently held by Amanda Faust ’09.

Bison defense shut down the Big Red’s efforts in the second half. Goalkeeper Sarah Zargarpour ’12 counted six saves on the game.

“Our mentality going into the Cornell game was to make a statement about who we are and what we can do on the field and as a team,” Zargarpour said. Their statement extended into Sunday’s competition, when Zargarpour and the Bison defense kept the Towson Tigers scoreless.

Offensively, Morgan Kauffman ’11 led the way for the Bison on Sunday, scoring two goals against Towson in the first half. Her first came about 15 minutes into the game, on a Bison breakaway and an assist from Bruvik.

“The momentum from the Cornell game undoubtedly carried over into the win [Sunday]” Bruvik said.

Continuing her scoring streak from Saturday, Bruvik scored a goal in the second half of Sunday’s game, along with teammate Tayler Siegrist ’13. Siegrist’s goal, her second of the season, and the fourth Bison goal of the game, forced Towson to pull their starting goalie from the match.

The Bison outshot the Tigers 21-8 and snapped Towson’s three-game winning streak.

The Orange and Blue continue their home stand this weekend, facing Sacred Heart on Saturday and Indiana on Sunday. Both games will start at 1 p.m. at Graham Field.