2017 Patriot League Field Hockey Tournament - Championship Game
Date & Time	Sunday, Nov. 5  #1 Boston University vs. #3 Bucknell - 12 p.m.  FREE ADMISSION
Venue	New Balance Field | Boston, Mass.
Watch	Patriot League Network
Live Stats	GoTerriers.com
Twitter	@BUGameDay | @BU_FieldHockey

    
BOSTON - The 2017 Patriot League field hockey title will be on the line Sunday (Nov. 5) when top-seeded and 20th-ranked Boston University faces third-seeded Bucknell in the championship game at New Balance Field. Game time is set for 12 p.m.

Admission for Sunday's title game is free and fans in attendance can enjoy free pizza and various giveaways.

The Terriers (12-7) and Bison (10-9) are meeting the in the league tournament for the fifth straight year and the Terriers have won all of the previous four. The have faced off for the title just once before with BU posting a 2-1 win at Bucknell in 2014 for its first Patriot League championship. BU, who has now qualified for the title game in all five of its seasons in the Patriot League, is aiming for its third championship after going back-to-back in 2014 and 2015. 

In Friday's semifinal round, BU blanked fourth-seeded Holy Cross, 4-0, before Bucknell stunned second-seeded American by winning in a shootout after the teams played through regulation and two overtimes knotted at 1-1.

The Terriers got two goals from senior co-captain Grace Boston in the win over the Crusaders while sophomore Kiley Gallgeher and junior Maika Akroyd also found the back of the cage.

American opened the scoring against the Bison with a goal in the 57th minute before Bucknell pulled goalkeeper Emily Finn in favor of a kicking back and got an equalizer with 3:10 left on a goal off a corner. After a pair of scoreless overtimes, the Bison scored on their first three shootout tries and Finn kept the Eagles from converting on their three chances to seal the win.

The Terriers have won nine of their 10 all-time meetings with the Bison with victories in each of the past six. They faced off last Saturday's in the regular-season finale with BU earning a 1-0 home win thanks to a goal from Akroyd.

The Bison placed four players on the All-Patriot League teams earlier this week with senior Stephanie Dressler and junior Lexi Quick earning first-team honors and Finn and sophomore Brittany Willwerth collecting second-team accolades. 

Willwerth has a team-best 20 points on seven goals and six assists while Quick has 18 on five goals and a team-best eight assists. Junior M.C. Evans has contributed 14 points (4g, 6a) and Dressler, who has a team-high 44 shots, has chipped in with 11 points on the strength of five goals.

Finn has started all 19 games for the Bison and has a 2.23 goals-against average to go along with a .704 save percentage.  

Following her two-goal performance in the semifinals, Boston now shares the team lead in points at 20 with freshman Ailsa Connolly. Boston has nine goals and two assists while Connolly has 10 goals. Senior co-captain Kali Shumock leads all PL players in assists with 10 and has added a trio of goals for 16 points. Also at 16 points on the year is junior Kara Enoch (4g, 8a). Enoch's eight assists are the most by a BU striker since Hayley Hamada also put up eight in 2007.

The Terrier defense enters Sunday on a shutout skein of 165:05 and freshman Millie Baker and junior Kathleen Keegan have combined for a 1.64 goals-against average and .648 save percentage in goal this season.