Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
Robert Morris
Bucknell Women's Lacrosse Holds Off Robert Morris, 9-7
3/1/2009 7:00:00 AM | Women's Lacrosse
March 1, 2009
LEWISBURG, Pa. - Chelsea Peters (Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y./Cold Spring Harbor) scored three goals and Bucknell used another strong defensive effort to turn back visiting Robert Morris 9-7 on Sunday at Graham Field. Carol Donohue (West Babylon, N.Y./West Babylon) added two goals and an assist and Bonnie Buechel (South Orange, N.J./Columbia) also scored twice for the Bison, who at 3-1 are off to their best start since 1997.
Emily Tomlinson scored four goals and Ashley Levering had five assists for Robert Morris (1-2), which was coming off a 15-12 win over St. Bonaventure at home on Friday night.
Bucknell led 6-5 at the half after the two teams alternated goals throughout most of the period. The Bison trailed 4-3 before piecing together the game's first two-goal run. That came courtesy of Peters, who scored twice on free-position shots just 1:54 apart. After Colleen O'Donnell tied it at 5-5, Peters scored again on an 8-meter attempt with 1:52 in the half to put the Bison ahead to stay.
Julia Braun (Tomkins Cove, N.Y./North Rockland), who had another big all-around day for Bucknell, scored on a beautiful backhand shot 9:36 into the second half to give the Bison a two-goal cushion for the first time. Almost five minutes later Michelle Milot (Basking Ridge, N.J./Ridge) passed from behind the cage to a cutting Buechel for her team-leading ninth goal of the year, and Bucknell led 8-5.
With goalie Alyssa DeLorenz (Garland, Texas/Plano East) making six of her 11 saves in the second half, the Bison defense was stellar in protecting the lead. Bucknell kept the Colonials off the board for a span of 34:05, but Robert Morris made things interesting in the closing minutes.
Jenn Collins ended the drought with a goal at the 6:43 mark to make it 8-6. DeLorenz made a big save to keep it a two-goal game, and Bucknell was able to run four minutes off the clock before Robert Morris finally came up with a takeaway. With 2:01 left, Levering snagged a missed shot behind the net and fed it right back in front to Tomlinson for a point-blank goal, bringing the Colonials back within one at 8-7.
Braun won a critical draw for the Bison, who stalled more time off the clock before turning it over with 1:12 left. Robert Morris took the ball into the Bucknell zone, but with 46 seconds left the Colonials were hit with an offsides call. This time Bucknell whittled the clock all the way down until Donohue tossed one in with four seconds remaining.
The game was slowed by numerous whistles, as the two teams were called for a combined 45 fouls. Robert Morris was booked with five yellow cards and a red card.
Bucknell finished with a 28-26 edge in shots and a 25-18 advantage in ground balls, while the Colonials won the draw control battle 10-7.
Braun finished with a career-high seven ground balls, one short of the Bucknell record, along with four caused turnovers and two draw controls. Defender Catherine Barry (Liverpool, N.Y./Liverpool) had five ground balls for the Bison, who have yielded eight goals or less in each of their three victories.
Bucknell now has six days to prepare for its Patriot League opener next Saturday at Lehigh. The Mountain Hawks defeated the Bison in overtime last season.
