Bucknell University Athletics
Fifth-Ranked Terps Run Past Bison Laxmen, 16-6
3/12/2002 7:00:00 AM | Men's Lacrosse
March 12, 2002
LEWISBURG, Pa. - Dan LaMonica and Mike Mollot registered five points apiece to lead fifth-ranked Maryland to a 16-6 victory over Bucknell Tuesday at Christy Mathewson-Memorial Stadium.
Dennis Geraghty and Patrick Christensen had two goals each and Chris Cara added four assists for the Bison, who lost its fourth straight game to a ranked opponent to start the season. Maryland improved to 4-1.
The Terrapins sprinted to a 5-1 lead after 19 minutes of play before Bucknell mounted its best surge of the day. Christensen scored his first collegiate goal one a one-timer from Andrew Sanders with 8:09 left in the second quarter. Less than a minute later Cara grabbed a loose ball on a Maryland clear attempt and found Geraghty for a fastbreak tally to make it 5-3.
Bucknell, which was solid in the faceoff department behind freshman Michael Petrash (9 of 16), regained possession with a chance to cut the Terps' lead to one, but the Bison turned the ball over behind the net, and moments later Nate Watkins scored his first of two goals on the day to make it 6-3. Further taking the wind out of Bucknell's sails were two goals in the final 24 seconds, the first from Matt Brock and the second from Craig Hochstadt at the final buzzer of the half.
Paul Gillette scored from a LaMonica feed just 16 seconds into the second half and LaMonica scored from Watkins 51 seconds late. After Bison freshman John Salvesen made it 10-4 with an extra-man goal, Maryland scored the next six goals in succession, coming from six different players, to take its largest lead of the day at 16-4 with 11:14 remaining.
Geraghty and Christensen picked up the last two goals of the game in the final 10 minutes. Christensen and Salvesen each notched their first collegiate goals for Bucknell. Freshmen combined for three goals and four assists for the Bison.
Thirteen different Terps scored goals, led by LaMonica's hat trick. Mollot had a goal with four assists, while Mike Morsell added a goal and two helpers. Long-poles Chris Passavia and Michael Howley also entered the scoring column.
Despite the lopsided score, the final stat sheet was even. Maryland held a 34-33 shot advantage, Bucknell gained a slim 43-42 edge in ground balls, while each team won 12 faceoffs. Justin Sussman made 10 saves in three quarters before giving way to Jeff Powless, who stopped three shots in his Bison debut.
Danny McCormick, the first of three Terp netminders, made eight saves in 48 minutes.
Bucknell returns to action this Saturday against 17th-ranked Army at 1 p.m. at Christy Mathewson-Memorial Stadium.
