Wednesday, February 15
Lewisburg, Pa.
5 p.m.
Bucknell University
0-2
10
vs
12
UMBC
2-0
1
2
3
4
F
UMBC
4
4
3
1
12
Bucknell
1
2
4
3
10
Women’s Lax Rally Falls Just Short in 12-10 Loss to UMBC
2/15/2023 7:40:00 PM | Women's Lacrosse
LEWISBURG, Pa. – Freshman Megan Krestinski scored her first three collegiate goals and Taylor Kopan also registered a hat trick, but the Bucknell women's lacrosse team saw its big second-half rally come up two goals short in a 12-10 loss to UMBC on Wednesday at unseasonably warm Graham Field at Holmes Stadium.
The Bison (0-2) scored first but trailed 7-1 inside three minutes to play in the first half before outscoring UMBC (2-0) 9-5 the rest of the way. The Retrievers were coming off a 19-10 win over George Washington in their season opener on Saturday, and they returned most of their key players from last year's squad that defeated Bucknell 20-5.
Krestinski was not the only Bison first-year to open her scoring account. Alex Nesbitt logged her first career goal and also assisted on Kopan's tally at the 8:11 mark of the third quarter that capped a three-goal run and made it a 9-7 game.
UMBC scored the next two to go up 11-7, but free-position strikes from Allie Boyce and Krestinski just 1:21 apart made it a two-goal game again. That's when UMBC goalie Isabella Fontana took over. She made three straight saves, including a point-blank stop on Krestinski just seconds after her 8-meter goal.
Just inside four minutes to play Kopan made a great move to beat her defender on the right wing before bouncing a shot squarely off the crossbar. UMBC quickly cleared, and Katana Nelson was fouled inside the arc at the other end. Nelson scored her third goal of the game – all on free-position attempts – to make it a 12-9 game.
Kopan quickly answered with a tracer from the right side to make it a two-goal game once again with 3:10 to play. UMBC won the draw and the Bison quickly went down a player on a yellow card with 3:00 to go. The Retrievers pushed for an insurance goal and were awarded a free-position shot, but Bucknell's Caroline Miller made a great play to trail-check the shooter, forcing a turnover.
The Bison called a timeout with the ball with 1:27 to play, but an errant pass behind the goal ended their hopes of finishing the comeback.
UMBC attempted 13 of the game's first 14 shots, but Bucknell rallied to finish with a 25-23 shot advantage. The Bison also led 14-12 in draw controls, with Caitlin McHale and Ella Payer nabbing five apiece. Emily Baird led the team with four caused turnovers. Miller and Carly Cenci also scored goals for the Bison.
Nelson and Claire Bockstie scored three times each, and Megan Halczuk had two goals and two assists to lead UMBC's potent attack. Kennedy Evans (6 CT) and Avery Corino (5 GB, 3 CT) both had big nights on the defensive side.
Fontana made 10 saves for UMBC, while Symone Ryans finished with six for the Bison, who are back in action on Saturday at Marist.
The Bison (0-2) scored first but trailed 7-1 inside three minutes to play in the first half before outscoring UMBC (2-0) 9-5 the rest of the way. The Retrievers were coming off a 19-10 win over George Washington in their season opener on Saturday, and they returned most of their key players from last year's squad that defeated Bucknell 20-5.
Krestinski was not the only Bison first-year to open her scoring account. Alex Nesbitt logged her first career goal and also assisted on Kopan's tally at the 8:11 mark of the third quarter that capped a three-goal run and made it a 9-7 game.
UMBC scored the next two to go up 11-7, but free-position strikes from Allie Boyce and Krestinski just 1:21 apart made it a two-goal game again. That's when UMBC goalie Isabella Fontana took over. She made three straight saves, including a point-blank stop on Krestinski just seconds after her 8-meter goal.
Megan Krestinski with a 🚀 to make it an 11-8 game early in the 4th quarter. Megan has her first career hat trick! #rayBucknell
— Bucknell Women's Lax (@Bucknell_WLAX) February 15, 2023
Watch: https://t.co/CIEZekSd6m@PatriotLeagueTV | @ESPN pic.twitter.com/egQNkZotTn
Just inside four minutes to play Kopan made a great move to beat her defender on the right wing before bouncing a shot squarely off the crossbar. UMBC quickly cleared, and Katana Nelson was fouled inside the arc at the other end. Nelson scored her third goal of the game – all on free-position attempts – to make it a 12-9 game.
Kopan quickly answered with a tracer from the right side to make it a two-goal game once again with 3:10 to play. UMBC won the draw and the Bison quickly went down a player on a yellow card with 3:00 to go. The Retrievers pushed for an insurance goal and were awarded a free-position shot, but Bucknell's Caroline Miller made a great play to trail-check the shooter, forcing a turnover.
The Bison called a timeout with the ball with 1:27 to play, but an errant pass behind the goal ended their hopes of finishing the comeback.
UMBC attempted 13 of the game's first 14 shots, but Bucknell rallied to finish with a 25-23 shot advantage. The Bison also led 14-12 in draw controls, with Caitlin McHale and Ella Payer nabbing five apiece. Emily Baird led the team with four caused turnovers. Miller and Carly Cenci also scored goals for the Bison.
Nelson and Claire Bockstie scored three times each, and Megan Halczuk had two goals and two assists to lead UMBC's potent attack. Kennedy Evans (6 CT) and Avery Corino (5 GB, 3 CT) both had big nights on the defensive side.
Fontana made 10 saves for UMBC, while Symone Ryans finished with six for the Bison, who are back in action on Saturday at Marist.
Team Stats
UMBCW
BUCKNELL
Shots
23
25
Turnovers
20
18
Caused Turnovers
12
10
Draw Controls
12
14
Free-Position Shots
7
6
Ground Balls
15
20
Game Leaders
Players
G
3
A
0
FO
-
Pen
-
GB
0
CT
1
G
3
A
0
FO
-
Pen
-
GB
1
CT
0
G
1
A
0
FO
-
Pen
-
GB
1
CT
0
G
1
A
0
FO
-
Pen
-
GB
0
CT
0
Players Mentioned
M
/ Women's LacrosseA
/ Women's LacrosseA
/ Women's LacrosseA
/ Women's LacrosseM
/ Women's Lacrosse
D
/ Women's Lacrosse
M
/ Women's Lacrosse
A
/ Women's Lacrosse
D
/ Women's Lacrosse
G
/ Women's LacrosseIn The Herd: First Practice Review And Ruot Bijiek Feature
Tuesday, September 23
(Coaches Camera) Salem Men's Water Polo Vs. Gannon (9/21/25)
Monday, September 22
Salem Men's Water Polo Vs. Gannon (9/21/25)
Monday, September 22
(Coaches Camera) Bucknell Men's Water Polo Vs. Wagner (9/21/25)
Monday, September 22