Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
Colgate
Bucknell Women's Lacrosse Bows 15-11 at Colgate in PL Tournament Semis
4/24/2009 8:00:00 AM | Women's Lacrosse
April 24, 2009
HAMILTON, N.Y. - Despite a terrific six-point night from senior midfielder Bonnie Buechel (South Orange, N.J./Columbia), the Bucknell women's lacrosse team suffered a 15-11 defeat to top-seeded Colgate on Friday in the Patriot League Tournament semifinals at Tyler's Field.
Buechel had four goals and two assists, and the Bison trailed by just a goal at 12-11 late in the game, but Colgate scored the final three to put the game away.
The loss was Bucknell's fifth in a row and dropped its season record to 9-8, while Colgate (13-4) advances to play third-seeded Navy in Sunday's championship game. Lehigh, Navy and Bucknell all tied for second place at 4-2, but the Bison dropped to the No. 4 seed based on tiebreakers and had to face the No. 1 seed and defending league champion on its home field.
Buechel's four goals give her 40 on the season, making her the seventh player in program history to reach that milestone. She also scored her 165th career point, putting her in sole possession of third place on Bucknell's career scoring list. Chelsea Peters (Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y./Cold Spring Harbor) added two goals and two assists, while Michelle Milot (Basking Ridge, N.J./Ridge) and Carol Donohue (West Babylon, N.Y./West Babylon) scored two goals each.
For Colgate, Brie Moran had two goals and four assists, Meghan Lawler tallied three goals and two assists, and Ashley Didio and Courtney Miller also scored three times apiece.
Bucknell jumped out to a 2-0 lead on goals by Donohue and Peters, then Colgate rallied with five unanswered goals. The Bison got right back in the game with a 4-1 run. Becca Devine (Arlington, Va./St. Stephen's & St. Agnes) tied the game at 6-6 off a Buechel assist with 9:40 left in the half, but Colgate hit the Bison with a four-goal flurry right before the half.
Miller broke the tie with 7:49 left, and later Lawler and Colleen Bubnack scored in the final 36 seconds to make it a 10-6 game.
The Bison, who were playing in the Patriot League Tournament for the first time since 2006, had plenty of fight left, however. Buechel scored three consecutive goals over a 12-minute span to start the second half, bringing Bucknell back within 10-9. The Bison never could get the game tied, however.
Colgate made a goalie switch with 19 minutes remaining, bringing Sara Drexler off the bench, and she made four big saves down the stretch.
Lawler answered the Buechel barrage to put Colgate up 11-9, but Buechel scored yet again with 12:16 to play to make it 11-10. Moran scored her 50th of the year with 7:49 left, then Donohue again made it a one-goal game, this time with Buechel assisting.
Bucknell won the draw but turned it over, and Colgate converted when Moran scored an unassisted tally with 4:18 left. Bubnack made it 14-11 with 2:25 to play, then Miller tossed another one in with 25 seconds remaining to make the final 15-11.
Colgate outshot the Bison 31-22 and had a 27-22 edge in ground balls. Bucknell won the draw control battle 16-12 but had 27 turnovers to 17 for the Raiders. Alyssa DeLorenz (Garland, Texas/Plano East) finished with 10 saves for the Bison.
Bucknell has one game remaining in the 2009 season. The Bison will host Columbia in a non-conference game on Tuesday at 4 p.m. at Graham Field.
