Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
Loyola (Md.)
Loyola Erases Early Bucknell Lead, Tops Bison Women's Lax 13-7
4/20/2016 7:35:00 PM | Women's Lacrosse
LEWISBURG, Pa. -- Sabrina Tabasso logged two goals, three assists and six draw controls to help Loyola rally past Bucknell 13-7 in Patriot League women's lacrosse action on Wednesday evening at sunny Graham Field. Emily Becker, Maddy Molinari and Eve Lukowski scored twice each for the Bison, who fell to 10-5 overall and 4-3 in the Patriot League. First-place Loyola improved to 10-5, 7-0 PL, and clinched the No. 1 seed for the Patriot League Tournament.
Bucknell led 3-1 after nine minutes of play, and the game was tied inside five minutes remaining in the first half, but Loyola bridged the halftime break with a 7-0 run to remain undefeated in conference play in three seasons since joining the Patriot League.
It was a defensive struggle for the majority of the first half. Lukowski, Molinari and Becker all scored as the Bison jumped out to that early 3-1 advantage. Christina Manis assisted on two of those goals, including a pretty give-and-go feed to Becker for the third tally. Frankie Kamely and Tabasso scored 51 seconds apart to tie the game at 3-3 at the 18:53 mark, and then neither team would score again for more than 14 minutes.
Hannah Powers finally snapped the tie with 4:36 left in the half, and Taylor VanThof made it 5-3 with 29 seconds on the clock.
Bucknell had some great looks to cut into that two-goal deficit early in the second period but came away empty on a clear breakaway and two free-position attempts. Tabasso scored at the other end to make it 6-3, and the margin grew to 8-3 after goals from Maddy Blakeman and Emily Clark.
Becker scored off a Sam Rickels feed to snap a scoring drought of 37:20, but the Greyhounds answered with two more to take a commanding 10-4 lead.
Blakeman finished with three goals, and Powers had two for Loyola. Standout defender Maddy Lesher caused five turnovers. Molly Wolf tallied nine saves with five goals against, while Taylor Caldwell made one save and allowed two goals in the final 7:21.
Jamie DeWitt had a strong game in goal for the Bison with 12 saves. Lucia Smircich led the defense with three caused turnovers and two ground balls.
Loyola finished with a 29-23 shot advantage, an 18-10 edge in ground balls, and a 12-9 lead in draw controls. Bucknell committed 21 turnovers to 16 for the Greyhounds. The game was slowed by 69 fouls, 36 whistled against the Bison and 33 on Loyola. The Greyhounds were 3-for-5 on free-position shots, while the Bison were 1-for-6.
Bucknell broke its single-season scoring record. The Bison now have 192 goals in 2016, surpassing the previous mark of 190, set in 2012.
Lukowski's two goals give her 57 points on the season, moving her into fourth place on Bucknell's single-season list. Manis (51) and Becker (50) also reached the 50-point mark, and Lukowski and Molinari both hit the 30-goal plateau.
The Bison are back in action on Saturday against Navy at 1 p.m. The team's four seniors will be honored prior to the contest.
Bucknell can clinch a Patriot League Tournament berth with a victory, a Colgate win over Lehigh, or an American win over Holy Cross.
