Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
Lehigh
Bison Women's Lax Drops Patriot League Opener at Lehigh, 10-4
3/8/2014 4:11:00 PM | Women's Lacrosse
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Freshman Christina Manis recorded two goals and an assist, but the Bucknell women's lacrosse team could not overcome a 17-save performance by Alex Fitzpatrick and the Bison fell 10-4 at Lehigh in the Patriot League openers for both teams on Saturday at the Ulrich Sports Complex.
The Bison finished with a 9-7 edge in draw controls and a 25-21 shot advantage, but Fitzpatrick made 11 of her saves in the second half and limited Bucknell to 1-for-8 on free-position attempts.
Sophie Kleinert and Katelyn Miller added goals for the Bison (0-5). Lehigh (3-2) received three goals apiece from Kendall Garden and Krista Dampman and two goals and an assist from Meghan Paytas.
Bucknell scored first just 2:20 into the match when Maddy Molinari fed Manis for her third goal of the season. Lehigh drew even exactly two minutes later on an unassisted goal by Allison LaBeau, and that would ignite a six-goal run for the Mountain Hawks.
Trailing 7-2 coming out of the locker room at halftime, Bucknell got back in it on goals from Kleinert and Manis just over five minutes apart. The Manis tally, off a feed from Sam Rickels, brought the Bison within 7-4 with still over 21 minutes remaining. But Dampman scored on an 8-meter shot to make it 8-4 with 19:19 to play, and neither team would find the net again until Lehigh tacked on two insurance goals in the final five minutes.
Elizabeth Duswalt finished with nine saves for Bucknell, which also forced 18 turnovers. Molinari was credited with four caused turnovers, while Miller added three more. Kleinert led the Bison with four draw controls and Caroline Collins recorded three.
The Bison will play their next three games at home, starting on Wednesday against Marist at 4 p.m. That contest will be streamed live on Bison Vision on the Patriot League Network.
