Bucknell University
Holy Cross
Women’s Lax Rides Big Second Half to 11-8 Win at Holy Cross
4/2/2017 5:39:00 PM | Women's Lacrosse
WORCESTER, Mass. – Sophomore Audrey Walsh recorded her second hat trick of the season, and classmate Jamie DeWitt made seven second-half saves to propel the Bucknell women's lacrosse team to an 11-8 win at Holy Cross on Saturday at Kuzniewski Field. The Bison improved to 7-4 overall and evened up their Patriot League record at 2-2, while the Crusaders fell to 6-6, 1-3.
Holy Cross broke open a 4-4 halftime deadlock by scoring twice in the first 1:12 of the second half. But the Bison dominated the game from there. DeWitt made seven saves and caused a turnover from that point forward, and Bucknell rattled off the game's next six goals.
Walsh started the run by finishing a feed from Christina Manis, and just over a minute later Courtney Burke scored the equalizer while getting knocked to the deck. Maddy Molinari converted a free-position shot to give Bucknell a 7-6 lead. Two minutes after Molinari score, Becca Golding walked in from the right flank and netted her second goal of the season. Mary Margaret Kenney then dished out consecutive assists to Walsh and Tace Sutherland to make it a 10-6 game.
Baker Earl's free-position shot ended Holy Cross' 19-minute scoreless drought, but Walsh answered from the 8-meter arc at the other end. Mary Patalita completed her hat trick for the Crusaders with 3:14 left, but the Bison ended the game with yet another defensive stop and beat Holy Cross for the fourth time in the last five years. The previous three wins were all by one goal.
Molinari, Burke and Sarah Galzerano scored two goals each for the Bison, while Manis and Kenney had two assists apiece. Katherine Doyle led the defense with four ground balls and two caused turnovers.
Bucknell also showed off some of its depth in this one, going to a number of first-year players down the stretch. Sutherland notched her second collegiate goal, Kate Fiore forced two free-position shots, Jessie Britton tallied a draw control, Sarah Dohler picked up a ground ball, and Morgan Steinhacker played well in the midfield.
Holy Cross outshot Bucknell 26-20 and led 12-8 in draw controls, but DeWitt registered nine saves compared to four for her counterpart Julia Maloney.
Molinari collected two draw controls in the game, moving her into the top 10 on Bucknell's career list with 94. She is now tied for ninth place with former teammate Sam Rickels. Her 56 DCs this season are fourth-most in school history.
With her two assists against the Crusaders, Manis now has 28 on the season, fourth-most in Bucknell history. She already holds the team career record, which now stands at 87.
The Bison are back in action next Saturday at American at 1 p.m.
