Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
Navy
Men's Lax Scores in Final Minute to Beat Navy, 8-7
2/21/2015 12:56:00 PM | Men's Lacrosse
ANNAPOLIS, Md. -- Senior midfielder Ryan Joseph continued his torrid start to the 2015 season with four goals, and he assisted on Sean Doyle's tiebreaking tally with 51.6 seconds to play as Bucknell edged Navy 8-7 in a wild Patriot League opener on Saturday at snowy Navy-Marine Corps Stadium.
Now 2-1 on the season, the Bison defeated the Midshipmen (1-2, 0-1 PL) for the fifth straight year and took an 8-7 lead in the all-time series. This one featured plenty of momentum swings on a frigid day in Annapolis.
Trailing 3-1 at the half, the Bison tied it on a pair of Joseph rockets early in the third quarter. Navy struck back with two straight goals, including a shorthanded tally by long-pole Chris Fennell, to go up 5-3 after three quarters. But Bucknell's man-up offense would have much more success in the fourth, particularly after the Midshipmen received what appeared to be a game-changing illegal stick penalty.
Bucknell pulled within 5-4 on a freshman-to-freshman goal, as Will Sands picked up the first of his three fourth-quarter assists with a pretty feed to Connor O'Hara on the crease. After Gabe Voumard went off on a slashing call, Joseph tied the game with an EMO goal at the 7:56 mark.
Brady Dove won the ensuing faceoff and bolted into the box for a Navy goal just seven seconds later, but a stick-check found that Dove's crosse was illegal. So the goal was wiped off the board, and Dove received a three-minute non-releasable penatly. The Bison cashed in twice on that extended EMO, with Sands feeding Joseph and Doyle 40 seconds apart for a 7-5 lead.
Navy shot right back with two goals in 43 seconds to tie it. Kevin Wendel scored from close range after his defender went to the ground, and then T.J. Hanzsche tied it off a Wendel assist with 3:27 to play.
Gavin Sullivan had a strong day at the faceoff spot for Bucknell, claiming 9 of 16 in the game, and his two biggest wins came after the Hanzsche equalizer. Alex Spring came off the wing to nab the ground ball on the first one, and Bucknell called timeout with possession and 1:38 to play. With just over a minute to go the officials put the shot-clock timer on, and about 10 seconds later Joseph came in from the left side at goal-line extended and slipped a perfect pass to Doyle on the crease for a quick-stick goal.
Zach Henkhaus quickly jumped on the ground ball on the next draw. The Bison cleared, and Thomas Flibotte weaved around chasing defenders to drain the final 10 seconds off the clock.
The final stat ledger was fairly even. Navy led 26-25 in shots, 10-9 in faceoffs and 29-21 in ground balls. Sam Grinberg made 10 saves in the Bison crease, while John Connors had seven for the Midshipmen. Bucknell was 3-for-5 with a man advantage and killed off its only man-down situation.
Spring led the Bison with four ground balls, while freshman defender Lukas Munoz had a strong game with three ground balls and two caused turnovers in his second career start.
Joseph's four goals and five points equaled his career highs, set in last year's Patriot League Tournament quarterfinal game at Colgate. Going into that game, Joseph had 10 goals and five assists in 38 career games. In the four games since then, he has 13 goals and three assists. His nine goals in 2015 lead the team.
This was the first of three straight Patriot League games for the Bison. Bucknell will host Colgate next Saturday at 1 p.m. before traveling to Lehigh on March 7.
