Bucknell University
2-7,(1-3PL)
Lehigh
4-4 (2-1PL)
Men's Lacrosse Falls Narrowly in Back-and-Forth Game at Lehigh, 9-8
3/23/2024 6:30:00 PM | Men's Lacrosse
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – The Bucknell men's lacrosse team fought to the end in Saturday's road game at Lehigh, but the Mountain Hawks prevailed 9-8 in a back-and-forth affair that saw five lead changes. Bucknell cut its deficit to a single goal with 32 seconds to play in the fourth quarter, but it was unable to gain one last possession and fell to 1-3 in Patriot League play with the loss. Lehigh improved to 4-4 (2-1 PL).
The Bison led on three separate occasions, including a 6-5 advantage at halftime. A two-goal lead by the Bison early in the second period and one by the Mountain Hawks late in the fourth were the largest by either squad in the contest.
Shots were nearly even, with Bucknell holding a slight 36-35 edge, and both teams picked up 29 ground balls. The biggest difference was Lehigh's 15-6 advantage in faceoffs. The two teams converted on just one of nine man-up opportunities, with Bucknell going 0 for 4.
Michael Meyer, Hans Huber and Connor Davis each scored twice for the Bison, and Will Hopkins ended up with two points on a goal and Bucknell's only assist of the game. Duncan Hill registered three of Bucknell's six caused turnovers.
Bucknell's 3-0 run at the end of the first quarter and the start of the second was the largest by either team in the game and gave the Bison a 3-1 lead with 11:32 to play in the first half. The Mountain Hawks tied the game at 3-3, but Bucknell jumped in the driver's seat again at 4-3 with 4:52 to go in the second frame. Bucknell and Lehigh combined for four more goals in the final 3:33 of the first half, with Bucknell scoring the last two in the final 68 seconds to gain a 6-5 edge going into the locker rooms. It was Huber's second goal of the quarter with eight seconds left that put the Bison in front.
The third was the only quarter where Lehigh outshot the Bison (13-4), and the hosting Mountain Hawks gained the lead at 7-6 with 6:48 to go. Bucknell answered once again, as Patrick Ciquera scored his second goal of the season with 19 seconds left to tie it up at 7-7 going into the fourth.
Lehigh stymied the Bison offense through the bulk of the fourth and scored two unanswered to lead 9-7 with 2:47 to play. Hopkins cut it to a single goal in the final minute, but the Mountain Hawks held on with the final possession.
Jaz Zanelli played all 60 minutes in goal for Bucknell and registered six saves against 18 Lehigh shots on goal. Lehigh's Nick Pecora totaled 10 saves. The Mountain Hawks had seven different players find the back of the net.
Bucknell returns to Christy Mathewson-Memorial Stadium next Saturday, March 30 to host Lafayette.
