Bucknell University Athletics
Men's Lax Looks for 2-0 Start Sunday vs. Bryant
2/11/2016 8:14:00 PM | Men's Lacrosse
LEWISBURG, Pa. -- The Bucknell men's lacrosse team will have to wait an extra day to go after its second win in as many games to start the 2016 season, but at least the Bison won't have to battle the extreme cold temperatures that are chilling the Northeast this weekend. Bucknell and Bryant have moved their game to Sunday at noon at the ForeKicks Indoor Complex in Taunton, Mass. Live stats will be available at BryantBulldogs.com.
Bucknell got out to a terrific start with a convincing 13-5 home win over Delaware last Saturday. Will Sands powered the offense with three goals and two assists, and Connor O'Hara also had a hat trick for the Bison.
Defensive midfielder Matt Gilray had a huge day with six ground balls and three assists. It was a terrific day for the defense, which conceded a goal just 1:06 into the game but then held the Blue Hens scoreless for the next 21:11, which allowed the offense to pile up six consecutive goals. A close defense unit comprised of returning starter Mike Schiappa and two new starters in Eric Monfort and Benny Borgognone limited Delaware to just five goals, the last of which came in the final minute of the game.
Two first-year players played major roles in the season-opening win. Jarett Witzal won 15 of his 21 faceoffs, with wing men Gilray and Alex Spring combining for 10 ground balls in the game. Freshman goalie Christian Klipstein made 10 saves and had a .667 save percentage in his collegiate debut. Klipstein was named Patriot League Goalie of the Week on Monday.
Bryant also won big in its season opener. The Bulldogs, the preseason favorite to win their fifth straight Northeast Conference title, routed Manhattan 16-3 at home on Saturday. Cam Ziegler and Ryan Sharpe led the offense with four goals and two assists apiece.
Goalie Gunnar Waldt, a Third Team All-American a year ago, had seven saves against the Jaspars. Kenny Massa, the younger brother of Bryant's former standout faceoff man Kevin Massa, won 19 of 22 at the X.
This will be the fourth all-time meeting between Bucknell and Bryant, all in the last four years. Bucknell has won two of the previous three, with the home team victorious in all three clashes. The Bison won 10-8 in 2013 and 7-5 last season at Christy Mathewson-Memorial Stadium, and the Bulldogs won 12-9 in Rhode Island in 2014.
This will be the first of three straight games away from home for Bucknell. The Bison will travel to Fairfield next Saturday, followed by a Patriot League tilt at Colgate on Feb. 27.
