Bucknell Men's Lacrosse Downs Holy Cross, 10-7

Saturday, March 9

Lewisburg, Pa.

11 a.m.

Bucknell University

2-4, 1-1PL

Holy Cross

2-4, 0-2PL

Holy Cross

Bucknell

Photo by: Marc Hagemeier

3/9/2019 1:30:00 PM | Men's Lacrosse

Box Score

LEWISBURG, Pa. – The Bucknell men's lacrosse team scored three unanswered goals in the final seven minutes of regulation to down Holy Cross, 10-7, on Saturday at Christy Mathewson-Memorial Stadium.

After the Crusaders (2-4, 0-2 Patriot League) used a 4-1 run to tie the game at seven apiece with 7:55 left to play, the Bison (2-4, 1-1 Patriot League) answered with a 3-0 run to secure their first Patriot League win of the 2019 campaign. During that run, three different Bison found the back of the net, with Will Yorke registering two assists to finish with a game-best five points (2g-3a).

Reed Malas added a hat trick and a helper while Ryan Durkin posted three points on two goals and an assist. A staggering 13 different Bison forced a turnover over the course of the contest, with Hunter Newman (3), Matt Fedorjaka (2), Tommy Sopko (2), Conor Shears (2) and Travis Talarico (2) causing multiple turnovers. Newman added three ground balls to pace the Bucknell defensive unit.

In net, Christian Klipstein finished with seven saves and five ground balls. Jarett Witzal went 11-for-21 on faceoffs, also scooping up a game-best eight ground balls.

At halftime, the Bison held a 5-3 advantage, bolstered by a 4-1 run that stretched from the first quarter's 3:06 mark to the second quarter's 6:18 mark. They then opened the third quarter's scoring to extend their lead to 6-3, tied for their largest of the contest.

The Crusaders, who struggled with clears and turnovers throughout the contest, began to settle down late in the third quarter. Using lengthy offensive possessions, they scored four of the game's next five goals to even the score. Just over a minute after Sean Mullaney made it a 7-7 game, Tom Smith took a feed from Yorke and sent a blistering shot past Jonathan Tesoro to put the Bison up for good.

Bucknell finished with advantages in shots (35-29), shots on goal (23-14) and ground balls (41-29). The Bison stymied the Crusader clearing game, holding Holy Cross to 17-for-28 on its attempts. They also forced the Crusaders into turning the ball over 22 times.

For Holy Cross, Tesoro made 13 saves, multiple from point-blank range. Mullaney finished with five points on a hat trick and two assists while Connor Waldron (2g-1a) and Kevin Kodzis (1g-2a) added three points apiece. Preseason All-Patriot League selection Matt Farrell filled the stat sheet with five ground balls and three caused turnovers.

The Bison next travel to North Carolina, the 2016 NCAA champion, for a 4 p.m. tilt on Tuesday, March 12. They then resume Patriot League play with a 1 p.m. game at Boston University on Saturday, March 16.