Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
1-3
Harvard
3-0
Men's Lacrosse Lets Early Lead Slip Away in 13-12 Loss to Harvard
2/24/2024 4:17:00 PM | Men's Lacrosse
WESTPORT, Conn. – The Bucknell men's lacrosse team held an 8-1 lead over Harvard in the first half, but that advantage slowly melted away over the final 30 minutes, and the Crimson ended up defeating the Bison 13-12 at a neutral game at Staples High School on Saturday.
The Bison carried an 8-3 lead into halftime before being outscored 10-4 in the third and fourth quarters. After leading 22-16 in shots over the first two quarters, the Crimson outshot the Bison 31-13 in the last 30 minutes.
Bucknell maintained its lead in the game until the Crimson finally tied things up at 11-11 with 9:33 to play in the fourth, capping a 4-0 run. Will Hopkins scored once more for the Bison to regain the advantage at 12-11 with eight minutes left, but Harvard scored back-to-back goals at 7:45 and 7:33 to earn its first lead of the contest. The Bison were unable to answer the rest of the way.
Peter Grandolfo scored the first two Bucknell goals of the game and ended up with a hat trick. Michael Meyer led the Bison in total points with two goals and three assists. Max Nolan posted 15 saves in goal for Bucknell.
After Grandolfo opened the scoring, five different Bison contributed to the 8-1 run to open the game. Harvard's Sam King scored the last two goals of the first half, including one with 11 seconds remaining, and the Crimson also scored the first two goals of the second half to begin their comeback.
Bucknell's Hans Huber and Grandolfo scored back-to-back late in the third to build the Bison lead back up to 10-5, but it was the last time the Bison were able to score twice in a row the rest of the game.
Harvard ended the game with a 14-12 advantage in faceoffs, and both teams were 50 percent on man-up opportunities.
Bucknell now turns its attention to Holy Cross, which visits Christy Mathewson-Memorial Stadium for the Patriot League opener on Saturday, March 2.
