Women's Lacrosse Set to Host Pittsburgh Foes Robert Morris, Duquesne

Robert Morris (1-2) at Bucknell (0-1)
When: Saturday, Feb. 26, 12 p.m.
Where: Graham Field at Holmes Stadium, Lewisburg, Pa.
Live Stats: BucknellBison.com
Follow on Twitter: @Bucknell_WLAX

Duquesne (2-2) at Bucknell (0-1)
When: Wednesday, March 2, 5 p.m.
Where: Graham Field at Holmes Stadium, Lewisburg, Pa.
Internet Video: ESPN+
Live Stats: BucknellBison.com
Follow on Twitter: @Bucknell_WLAX

Bucknell at a Glance

The Bison caught an unfortunate break when last Saturday's game at Binghamton was postponed after snow squalls left the field in an unplayable condition. The game is expected to be made up later this season.
Bucknell dropped its season opener at home to Canisius by a 14-12 count on Feb. 12. The Bison jumped out to a 3-0 lead, but the Golden Griffins evened things up later in the first half and then broke open a one-goal game with a 5-1 run in the fourth quarter.
Despite the loss, the Bison received career-best offensive outputs from Laurel McHale (4-2-6) and Tatumn Kohlbrenner (4-1-5), and both were honored by the Patriot League last week. McHale was named the PL Attacker of the Week, and Kohlbrenner was selected as the PL Midfielder of the Week.
Freshmen attackers Allie Boyce (1-0-1) and Carly Cenci (0-1-1) both started on opening day and logged their first collegiate points.
Katie Wendell, Caroline Miller, and Taylor Kopan also scored goals for Bucknell, and Emma Cashwell dished out two assists.
Bucknell won 13 draw controls against Canisius, led by Ella Payer with four and Kohlbrenner and Cashwell with three each.
Freshman goalie Colleen Kazanjian made her collegiate debut in relief of senior starter Caitlin Tucker. Kazanjian tallied four saves.
The Bison went 3-6 during an abbreviated 2021 spring season. The wins came over Lafayette, American, and Colgate, all at home.
Bucknell was picked to finish eighth in the Patriot League preseason poll. Loyola was tabbed the preseason favorite, followed by Navy, Army, Lehigh, Boston University, Colgate, Holy Cross, Bucknell, American, and Lafayette.
The Bison return nine starters, including three of the top four scorers and the bulk of the defensive unit, from last year's squad.
Seniors Cashwell and Eva Macris, along with junior Payer, have been named captains for the 2022 season. Macris is in her second year as a captain.
Payer is Bucknell's lone returning All-Patriot League selection. She earned the honor as a sophomore after leading the team with 24 draw controls while playing strong defense. Midfielder Mason Rode, who graduated last spring, joined Payer on the All-PL Second Team.
Senior attackers McHale and Wendell are the top returning scorers. McHale tallied a team-high 18 points on 11 goals and seven assists last season, while Wendell logged five goals and a team-high 12 assists.
Head coach Jackie Dando is in her third season as Bucknell's head coach. Each of the first two were disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, however. Former Colgate star Haley O'Hanlon and Veronica John have joined the staff as assistant coaches.

Robert Morris at a Glance

The Colonials dropped their first two games of the season to Ohio State (17-5) and Canisius (16-11) before winning their home opener on Wednesday, 17-9 over Detroit Mercy.
Freshman Jenna Irwin scored five goals to lead Robert Morris in the win over Detroit.
Irwin and Gianna Anthony have a team-high six goals on the season. Jerica Obee (5-3-8) leads the team with eight points.
The Colonials are coming off a sensational 2021 season in which they finished 14-3 overall and 10-0 in the Mid-American Conference. RMU went to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in team history and fell to No. 5 Notre Dame 16-0 in the first round.
Robert Morris was picked to repeat as MAC champion in the 2022 preseason poll. The Colonials returned First Team All-MAC selection Jordan Anderson and Second Team picks Kelley Flynn and Colleen Tifft.
Bucknell is 4-5 all-time against Robert Morris. The Colonials have won the last two, including an 11-8 verdict in Coraopolis in 2020. The Bison jumped out to a 6-1 lead in that game, but RMU outscored the Bison 7-1 in the second half.
Bucknell's last series win came in the 2018 season opener, when Mary Margaret Kenney scored the game-winner in overtime to lift the Bison to a 5-4 away victory. Jamison DeWitt had a terrific game in goal with 11 saves and only the four goals against.

Duquesne at a Glance

The Dukes are off to a 2-2 start, with the wins coming against Youngstown State (19-15) and Kent State (15-4) and the losses against Pittsburgh (9-8 OT) and No. 25 Penn State (18-4).
Delaney Rodriguez-Shaw, Sam King, and Tina St. Clair all have nine goals through four games to lead the team. Rodriguez-Shaw also has a team-high four assists for 13 points.
Duquesne is +10 on the season in ground balls but -20 in draw controls.
The Dukes have played three different goalies this season, with Mady Piersielak and Rachel O'Toole getting two starts apiece. Piersielak has a team-high 14 saves.
Duquesne went 4-5 last season, including a 3-5 mark in the Atlantic 10. The Dukes were picked to finish fifth in the A-10 this season.
Duquesne has won 10 of the 12 all-time meetings with Bucknell, including the last seven in a row. The last meeting came in 2014, a 16-5 Dukes victory. Bucknell's last series win was an 11-9 verdict in Pittsburgh in 2007.

Looking Ahead

After these two home games, Bucknell hits the road for a pair, starting next Saturday, March 5 at Saint Bonaventure at 3 p.m.

Women's Lacrosse Set to Host Pittsburgh Foes Robert Morris, Duquesne

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Allie Boyce

Emma Cashwell

Carly Cenci

Colleen Kazanjian

Tatumn Kohlbrenner

Taylor Kopan

Eva Macris

Laurel McHale

Caroline Miller

Ella Payer

Mason Rode

Caitlin Tucker

Katie Wendell

Women's Lacrosse Set to Host Pittsburgh Foes Robert Morris, Duquesne

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Allie Boyce

Emma Cashwell

Carly Cenci

Colleen Kazanjian

Tatumn Kohlbrenner

Taylor Kopan

Eva Macris

Laurel McHale

Caroline Miller

Ella Payer

Mason Rode

Caitlin Tucker

Katie Wendell

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