Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
Winthrop
Women's Lacrosse Improves to 6-2 With 9-6 Win Over Winthrop
3/16/2016 5:56:00 PM | Women's Lacrosse
LEWISBURG, Pa. – Maddy Molinari tallied three goals and three assists and Bucknell limited Winthrop to one second-half goal as the Bison women's lacrosse team posted a 9-6 victory over Winthrop Wednesday afternoon at Graham Field. It was the third straight win for the Bison, who improved to 6-2. The Eagles fell to 8-2.
“This win means we deserve the success we have had this season,” commented Bucknell head coach Randall Swope, whose team lost to Winthrop by 10 goals last year. “This group has worked tirelessly. We knew we were going to surprise some people and we had so many players step up big today. They showed a lot of poise and did not panic. I couldn't be more proud of them.
“Winthrop has won their conference championship and gone to NCAAs and we are hungry for that. This team hates to lose and wants to win for each other.”
Bucknell, which entered the week ranked first nationally in goals scored per game (16.8), has now won two straight contests with strong defense. The Bison have allowed just 11 goals in two wins this week against Wagner and Winthrop.
Thanks to two goals apiece from Molinari and Christina Manis, the Bison opened a 4-2 edge midway through the first half. Winthrop answered with three straight goals to take a 5-4 lead into halftime. The final two goals in that stretch came with 3:30 and 2:54 remaining on the clock before intermission.
Bucknell was dominant in the second half, holding the Eagles scoreless for the first 23:56. Emily Becker, Molinari and Eve Lukowski scored goals over a 10-minute span to give the Bison a 7-5 advantage.
Danielle Ellis, who was one of six Eagle goal scorers, ended Winthrop's span of 26:50 without a goal to make it a one-goal game with 6:04 left.
Bucknell controlled possession for the final 3:40 of the game and tallied two empty-net goals in the final minute for the final three-goal margin of victory.
The Bison outshot the Eagles 28-21, including 17-12 in the first half. Bucknell held a slight 20-18 edge in ground balls, including a team-high three by Molinari.
Jamie Dewitt posted six saves in goal for the Bison, while her counterpart, Alaina Girani totaled 10 saves.
Bucknell has six wins in a season for the first time since going 9-9 in 2009. The Bison are off to their best start to a season since opening that same campaign 7-2.
Wednesday's victory marked Bucknell's first over a team with at least eight wins since it defeated a 10-5 Colgate team late in the 2003 campaign.
The Bison will aim to extend their winning streak to four games for the first time since 2007 this Saturday when they open Patriot League play at Boson U. Start time is 1 p.m. and the game will be broadcast on the Patriot League Network.
