Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
Robert Morris
Last-Second Goal Propels Robert Morris Past Bucknell in Women's Lax, 9-8
3/3/2007 7:00:00 AM | Women's Lacrosse
March 3, 2007
LEWISBURG, Pa. - Jennifer Collins launched a shot from about 40 yards away just as the final buzzer sounded, and somehow the ball found its way into the net to give Robert Morris a stunning 9-8 victory over Bucknell Saturday afternoon at chilly Graham Field.
The wild ending included three goals scored in the final minute, but it was the Colonials coming up with their first win in three tries this season, while the Bison fell to 0-3.
The loss spoiled a terrific day for Bucknell freshman attack Carol Donahue (West Babylon, N.Y./West Babylon), who finished with a goal and five assists. Bonnie Buechel (South Orange, N.J./Columbia) and Lauren Deitrich (Collegeville, Pa./Hill School) scored twice each, while Sarah Collins (Goldens Bridge, N.Y./John Jay) had a goal and two assists.
Katlyn Recchia (Towson, Md./Towson) scored with 10:40 left in the first half to give the Bison a 5-2 lead at intermission, but with the wind at its backs in the second half, Robert Morris stormed back. Brittany Smith scored twice in succession to start the half to make it a 5-4 game before Donahue fed Collins to restore a two-goal margin.
Robert Morris finally tied it at 6-apiece on Collins' goal with 14:50 to play. Bucknell freshman Alison Heffernan (Malvern, Pa./Agnes Irwin School) answered with her first collegiate goal less than two minutes later to put the Bison back in front 7-6, but the Colonials won the ensuing draw and Collins scored unassisted just 28 seconds later to knot the game back up at 7-7.
Both teams were unsuccessful on long offensive possessions before the Colonials took their first lead of the day with just 59 seconds left. Pam Deguffroy took a Collins pass and bounced a shot just across the goal line into the top left corner of the net.
Defender Alex Radebaugh (Freeland, Md./Notre Dame Prep) scrambled for a critical draw control, and with about 25 seconds left Paige Kasschau (Rockville Centre, N.Y./South Side) just missed scoring the tying goal from point-blank range. Just after the re-start, however, Donahue found Buechel cutting to the net, and Buechel buried the tying goal with 17 seconds left.
Bucknell won another draw control but then lost possession near midfield. Collins ended up with the ball, took several strides toward the goal and launched a desperation shot just as the horn sounded. Bison goalie Katie Hartsock (Wayne, Pa./Conestoga) got a piece of it, but the ball deflected into the cage for the winning tally.
Hartsock finished with 10 saves on the day, including two big ones on 8-meter attempts late in a close game. Her counterpart, Erica Webb, finished with six stops, all in the first half.
Bucknell outshot Robert Morris 24-23 and won the ground ball battle 20-15.
The Bison will be back in action on March 12 when they take on Long Island in West Palm Beach, Fla.
