Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
Robert Morris
Bucknell Women's Lacrosse Downed 9-5 by Robert Morris
2/27/2011 7:00:00 AM | Women's Lacrosse
Feb. 27, 2011
LEWISBURG, Pa. - Strong defense and goalkeeping were predominant for most of the day, but Robert Morris parlayed a three-goal run to start the second half into a 9-5 victory over host Bucknell Sunday afternoon at Graham Field. Julia Braun (Tomkins Cove, N.Y./North Rockland) scored two goals and Ali Carey (Clarksville, Md./Garrison Forest) had a goal and an assist for the Bison, who fell to 1-2 on the season.
Colleen O'Donnell had a big day for the Colonials in their season opener, producing three goals, an assist, five caused turnovers and five ground balls. Kaleigh Gibbons and Lauren Roberts added two goals apiece.
Bucknell led twice in the first half at 1-0 and 3-2. Back-to-back goals by Braun and Katelyn Miller (Reisterstown, Md./McDonogh) made it 3-2, but a tally by Rachel Engel with 9:47 left made it 3-3 after a first half dominated by the defenses.
Alyssa DeLorenz (Garland, Texas/Plano East) was terrific in the first half with eight saves, but the Bison committed 14 first-half turnovers and converted only 8 of 14 clearing attempts.
Robert Morris goalie Kaitlin Pentz took over in the second half, making seven of her nine saves, five coming from point-blank range. After Pentz stoned two Bison shooters in close, O'Donnell broke the tie 6:49 into the second half with an unassisted goal.
Roberts and Gibbons followed with goals 1:44 apart, the later coming in transition after a Bucknell turnover at midfield. The Bison got one back with 14:31 to play on the first career goal by Andrea Feldman (Radnor, Pa./Radnor), and they had two great chances to draw closer but were denied by Pentz.
O'Donnell restored the three-goal lead at 7-4 at the 11:58 mark. Braun's second of the day made it 7-5 with 4:02 left, but the Bison could not get closer as the Colonials tacked on a pair of insurance markers in the final three minutes.
Robert Morris finished with a 29-21 shot advantage. Both teams had seven draw controls, while Robert Morris had 21 ground balls to Bucknell's 20.
The Bison defense had an excellent day, forcing the Colonials into 24 turnovers. Thirteen of those were caused, with sophomore defender Adrienne Wendling (Bethesda, Md./Bullis School) leading the way with five caused turnovers and three ground balls. Six different Bison collected three ground balls, while Sophie Kleinert (Greenwich, Conn./Greenwich Academy) had three draw controls. DeLorenz finished with 10 saves.
Bucknell had scored 34 goals in its first two games of the season before being limited to five on Sunday. Carey's goal was her team-leading 10th of the season, while Braun now has nine.
Bucknell opens a two-game road trip on Wednesday at Penn State.
