The Bison field hockey team have been offered the tantalizing opportunity to play a complete season in the spring of 2021, an opportunity previously lost with the cancellation of their Fall 2020 season. The Bison finished third in the 2019 Patriot League rankings, falling short to Lafayette in the semifinal game last season. They finished the season with nine wins and nine losses, with an impressive four wins, and two of those losses in league play. Despite COVID-19 postponing the fall season, the Bison are striving for greatness this spring. “We are super excited and grateful as a team to have the opportunity to play,” Kaelyn Long ’21 said. 

The Orange and Blue return top point leader Leah Fogelsanger ’21. In the 2019 season, Fogelsanger finished with seven goals and two assists. Emily Doyle ’22 will also pose a threat on offense, finishing her 2019 campaign with seven goals as well. The back-line of defense for the Bison return key starters Long and Erin Zielinski ’22. After losing quality seniors in the midfield last season, Sarah Dimock ’21 is poised to hold it down as a returning center midfielder. Seven incoming freshmen were also added to the roster, bringing more talented players to the equation for the Bison. 

“Our team has been following the mantra ‘control the controllables’ in order to stay focused on our goals. We are striving to get better each day we get the chance to be on that field while prioritizing our safety,” Long said. 

The program welcomed a new assistant coach Alexa Ostoich this winter, which will add a new perspective and voice to the team. Ostoich most recently served as the head field hockey coach at the Baldwin School in Bryn Mawr, Pa., as well as a U16 coach for Shock Field Hockey Club in Glen Mills, Pa. Ostoich will be assistant to head coach Jeremy Cook, as they look forward to a successful spring season. 

The Bison have a modified Patriot League schedule, with only six games scheduled before playoffs. They have their home opener against the Colgate Raiders at Graham Field at Holmes Stadium on Sunday, Mar. 7. The Bison will look to take it to the next level this spring season, and have an amazing opportunity to do so.