Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
Delaware
Delaware Rallies Past Bison Men's Lax 12-11
2/7/2015 3:25:00 PM | Men's Lacrosse
LEWISBURG, Pa. -- Bucknell was looking good early in its season opener at Delaware on Saturday afternoon, but in a game that featured a number of wild momentum swings, the Blue Hens came from behind twice to deal the Bison a tough 12-11 setback. Thomas Flibotte and Ryan Joseph both recorded hat tricks for Bucknell, but Tom Holland scored his fourth goal of the day with 4:09 remaining to win it for Delaware.
The first quarter could not have gone any better for the Bison. They outshot Delaware 17-1 and led 5-0 after two goals from Joseph and one each from Flibotte, Sean Doyle and freshman Will Sands. First-year faceoff man Sam Hahn won 4 of 6 draws in the opening quarter, and the defense came up with quick stops on Delaware's only four possessions.
The Blue Hens (1-1) finally got on the scoreboard through Zach Runberg's EMO goal at the 11:35 mark of the second period, but back-to-back goals by Joseph and Flibotte gave the Bison a seemingly commanding 7-1 lead.
Delaware made some significant progress late in the first half, however, scoring twice in the final 2:08 as well as drawing a penalty with just five seconds remaining, ensuing it would start the third quarter with possession. On a day when the two teams combined to convert on 5 of 6 EMO chances, the Blue Hens took advantage and pulled within 7-4 on Brian Kormandy's tally just as the Bison penalty was expiring.
Sands made a nice pass from behind to the goal to a cutting Flibotte to answer for Bucknell, but then Delaware ripped off five straight goals to take its first lead of the day at 9-8 with 3:32 left in the third.
Senior Gavin Sullivan helped swing the momentum back in Bucknell's favor with two big wins at the faceoff X. The first led to freshman Sean O'Brien's first career goal, and then just 53 seconds later Doyle scored with a diving shot while drawing a penalty for a late hit. On the ensuing EMO, Sands picked out classmate Connor O'Hara cutting to the crease for his first career goal and an 11-9 Bison lead.
Just like Bucknell's three-goal spurt was jump-started by a senior, so was Delaware's winning rally. Senior goalie Brett Anton, who did not enter the game until the start of the second quarter, made two big saves that led directly to goals. Elijah Conte made it 11-10 with 9:08 left, and then Tyler Aunon scored at the 6:26 mark to tie it up.
Bucknell was flagged for a slash with 4:44 to play, and the Blue Hens chased in again, with Holland scoring his fourth goal of the day from a sharp angle to the right of the cage.
The Bison were called for an infraction on the ensuing faceoff, but Sam Grinberg came up with his biggest save of the day on Kormondy. Zach Henkhaus nabbed the ground ball, but then had the ball checked out of his stick as he tried to run it out of the box. With Delaware under a stall warning, Alex Spring forced a turnover and came up with his team-high seventh ground ball of the day, but again the Bison turned it over in transition.
With just over a minute to go, Henkhaus stole the ball away from Holland, and this time the Bison cleared successfully. O'Brien shot wide with 16 seconds left, and then Doyle came from behind the cage and tried to beat Anton with a scoop shot, but it appeared to catch a piece of the goalie and a piece of the pipe but would not go. Delaware grabbed the loose ball and ran out the clock.
Bucknell finished with a 40-28 shot advantage, while Delaware led 27-26 in ground balls and 13-12 in faceoffs. Grinberg tallied seven saves for the Bison, and freshman Brac McKee came on to play 6:24 in the third quarter but did not record a save. The Bison played without the services of top returning scorer and 2013 All-American David Dickson due to injury.
This was the fourth straight year that Bucknell opened its season with Delaware. The teams split the four games, which were decided by a combined five goals.
Bucknell plays its home opener next Saturday against Bryant at noon at Christy Mathewson-Memorial Stadium.
