Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
American
Women's Lacrosse Now 10-3/4-1 after 12-8 Win over American
4/10/2016 6:31:00 PM | Women's Lacrosse
LEWISBURG, Pa. -- Behind four goals from Gretchen Richter and a sterling effort from the defensive corps, the Bucknell women's lacrosse team defeated American 12-8 on Saturday to reach the 10-win mark for the third time in program history. The Bison won their fourth straight game, their longest winning streak in nine years, and improved to 10-3 overall and 4-1 in the Patriot League.
Bucknell's only other double-digit win totals came in back-to-back seasons in 1997 (13) and 1998 (10), and the four conference victories ties the team record. More importantly, the Bison remain in a tie for second place with Lehigh in the Patriot League standings, one game behind 5-0 Loyola, with four games remaining.
Richter logged six draw controls in addition to her four goals, and she topped the 30-goal plateau for the first time in her career. Eve Lukowski added three goals and an assist, Christina Manis scored two goals, and Maddy Molinari and Sam Rickels both chipped in one goal and one assist.
While the offense reached double figures on the scoreboard for the ninth time in 13 games this season, the Bucknell defense played a critical role in the victory. The Bison conceded only two goals in the first half after jumping out to a quick 5-0 lead, and they never let the Eagles (4-10, 1-5) reduce the margin closer than two the rest of the way.
Bucknell forced 18 American turnovers, with Annie Gilbertson logging four of the team's 11 caused turnovers. Not only did the defense frequently take the ball away, the unit was also terrific in transition. The Bison were 18-for-19 on clears and scored three times on fastbreaks.
Defender Katherine Doyle had two caused turnovers and also played a key role in the clearing game. She had the pass of the day, a long lead pass over the defense to Molinari for a breakaway goal that gave Bucknell a 4-0 lead. The assist gave Doyle her first career point.
Bucknell scored five times in the first 12:06 of the game, but then did not hit the back of the net again until the 23:43 mark of the second half. After American had cut the lead to 5-3, Rickels made a nice pass to Lukowski for a big goal that ignited a 4-1 Bison run. Just 10 seconds after the Lukowski goal, Richter won the draw control and sprinted all the way in for another tally.
Jennifer DeSimone answered for the Eagles, but then Richter bounced a free-position shot under the crossbar and Manis followed two minutes later off a feed from Lukowski to make it a 9-4 game.
Later in the second half American scored two quick goals to pull within 10-8, but the defense pitched a shutout over the final 5:42. Manis and Gilbertson both had important caused turnovers in the late stages. Rickels scored an insurance goal with 1:49 left, and then Richter batted in a loose ball just before the final horn to make the final 12-8.
Bucknell outshot American 26-19 and led 20-14 in ground balls and 11-10 in draw controls. Bison goalie Jamie DeWitt made three saves and had a game-high seven ground balls. American keeper Fiona Geier had a good day with 10 saves.
Jessica Wojciechowski led the Eagles with three goals and an assist, while Olivia Mangan had two goals and two assists. Sam Breeze had a team-high five draw controls.
With her four points on Saturday, Lukowski jumped over the 50-point mark on the season. Her 53 points are eighth-most on Bucknell's single-season chart. Lukowski also moved into a tie for third place on the single-season assist list with 26.
Richter's 58 draw controls are tied for second-most in season at Bucknell, trailing only her own record of 84 draw controls from last season.
Bucknell is back in action next Saturday at at Colgate at 2 p.m.
