Bucknell University Athletics
Women's Lax Goes for 2-0 Start as Manhattan Visits Graham Field Saturday
2/12/2015 4:24:00 PM | Women's Lacrosse
LEWISBURG, Pa. -- The Bucknell women's lacrosse team got the 2015 season started on a positive note with a 9-7 victory over Wagner on Tuesday. Now the Bison will look to make it two straight wins when Manhattan comes to Graham Field for an 11 a.m. start on Saturday.
Bucknell was particularly strong defensively against Wagner, which is the preseason favorite in the Northeast Conference this year. The Bison limited the Seahawks to seven goals on 17 shots, and the final goal came with four seconds remaining once the verdict was well in hand. Bucknell won the draws 10-7 and ground balls 19-12, and it limited Wagner's top returning scorer to just a single goal.
Senior Emily Kookogey paced the offense with four goals, while freshman Gretchen Richter found the net three times in her collegiate debut. Sophomore Maddy Molinari accounted for the other two goals, and newcomer Mary Margaret Kenney tallied an assist and a team-high five ground balls. Richter had four ground balls and four draw controls.
Led by second-year head coach Elizabeth Weber, Manhattan will be playing its season opener on Saturday. The Jaspers were 4-13 overall and 2-6 in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference last season, but four of their losses were by one goal. Five of Manhattan's top six scorers from last year are back in 2015, led by Donna Jo DiNorcia, who led the team in goals (24), assists (8) and points (32) last year.
The Bison and Jaspers will be meeting for the fourth time. Bucknell has won two of the previous three engagements, both at home, 12-6 in 2007 and 17-11 in 2011. Manhattan pulled out a 13-12 verdict in Riverdale in 2012.
Saturday's contest will be the back half of a home lacrosse doubleheader with the Bison men, who host Bryant at noon at Christy Mathewson-Memorial Stadium.
Following the Manhattan game, Bucknell will play two nationally ranked opponents next week. The Bison visit Penn State on Wednesday before hosting Johns Hopkins the following Saturday.
