Bucknell University Athletics
Bison Lax Hosts Colgate in Key PL Clash; Dickson Named to Tewaaraton Watch List
2/26/2015 8:29:00 PM | Men's Lacrosse
LEWISBURG, Pa. -- The Bucknell men's lacrosse team jumped to the top of the Patriot League standings with an exciting 8-7 win at Navy in the conference opener last Saturday, and the schedule does not get any easier with PL rivals Colgate and Lehigh looming on the next two Saturdays. The Bison host No. 20 Colgate this Saturday at 1 p.m. on Bison Vision on the Patriot League Network.
Since dropping a 12-11 decision at Delaware on opening day, Bucknell has bounced back with consecutive victories over then-nationally ranked Bryant and Navy, conceding only 12 more goals in the process. Senior goalie Sam Grinberg was outstanding in the two wins, posting 23 saves for a .657 save percentage.
In front of Grinberg, junior long-stick defensive midfielder Alex Spring already has 15 ground balls and four caused turnovers in three games. Senior Ben Kellar and sophomore Mike Schiappa -- both returning starters -- have been rock-solid at close defense while incorporating freshman Lukas Munoz into the starting lineup.
Senior faceoff specialist Gavin Sullivan had one of his best games last week against Navy, winning 56 percent mostly against Brady Dove, who came into the game leading the nation in faceoff percentage (.895, 17-19).
Offensively, senior Ryan Joseph ranks fifth in the Patriot League in goals per game (3.0), with nine in three contests. Four of those came last week against Navy. Freshman Will Sands had three fourth-quarter assists in the Navy game and earned Patriot League Rookie of the Week honors on Monday. Sands leads the team and ranks eighth in the Patriot League with five assists.
Juniors Sean Doyle (6-1-7) and Thomas Flibotte (4-4-8) have also been strong offensively. Flibotte had two career assists coming into the season, and he already has four this year.
Bucknell is off to the 2-1 start despite playing without the services of All-America midfielder David Dickson, who has been out with an injury suffered in the preseason. Despite the injury, Dickson was one of 50 men named to the Tewaaraton Trophy Watch List on Thursday evening. Dickson was a Third Team All-American in 2013, he is a three-time All-Patriot League selection, and his 102 career assists were second-most in the nation among all returning players coming into this season, trailing only last year's Tewaaraton co-winner Lyle Thompson of Albany.
Colgate is off to a 3-0 start, with the wins coming against Bryant (9-5), Vermont (10-8) and Lafayette (12-10). Ryan Walsh had four goals and two assists in the league win over Lafayette on Saturday, and he has six goals and three assists on the season. Freshman Anthony Abbadessa also has six goals and three assists, and Matt Clarkson already has 10 assists along with a couple of goals. Goalie Brandon Burke, last year's Patriot League Rookie of the Year, has a .549 save percentage and a 7.67 goals-against average.
Bucknell and Colgate have met 35 times in a series that dates back to 1979. The Bison have a 21-14 lead in the series, including a 10-3 win in the 2011 Patriot League championship game. The Raiders won two one-goal games from the Bison last season, with the latter a 10-9 double-overtime thriller in the Patriot League Tournament quarterfinal round.
After the Colgate game, the Bison will travel to Lehigh on March 7 before stepping away from Patriot League play against Fairfield at home on March 10.
