Bucknell University
3-8, 2-4PL
Loyola
5-6, 3-2PL
Men's Lacrosse Falls 15-13 in Back-and-Forth Affair at Loyola
4/6/2024 3:42:00 PM | Men's Lacrosse
BALTIMORE, Md. – Bucknell scored nine unanswered goals in the first half and led by as many as five in the third quarter, but Loyola came storming back to defeat the Bison 15-13 at Ridley Athletic Complex Saturday afternoon. Bucknell fell to 2-4 in Patriot League play with the loss, while the Greyhounds improved to 3-2.
Saturday's game featured massive momentum swings by both teams, as Bucknell's 9-0 run came in response to an early 5-1 deficit. After holding the Greyhounds off the scoreboard for the first 14:59 of the second quarter, Bucknell was held without a goal for nearly 21 minutes of game time in the second half. The Bison scored in the opening minute of the third quarter but would find the back of the net just two more times in the contest, as Loyola posted a 9-3 advantage in the second half.
Michael Meyer scored a season-high five goals to lead the Bucknell effort, and Connor Davis posted his sixth hat trick of the season. Meyer and Davis combined to score six of Bucknell's goals during the 9-0 run. Davis' second goal of the game was the 100th of his career, as he became just the seventh Bucknell men's lacrosse player to reach that mark.
Bucknell won 19 of 31 faceoffs, with Brendan Coyle taking responsibility in 30 of them and collecting a team-high 12 ground balls. The two teams were nearly even in turnovers, with Meyer and Will Pickering causing two each for Bucknell, and both squads finished the game with 38 shots apiece.
Davis opened the scoring in the game to give the Bison an early 1-0 lead, but Loyola used a 5-0 run to jump in front. Henry Boykin, who ended the game with two goals, scored his first with two seconds to go in the opening frame to put an end to the Loyola run and begin the biggest of the game for the Bison.
Bucknell scored eight unanswered goals over the first 14:35 of the second quarter. The Bison outshot the Greyhounds 13-6 in the second, won five of nine faceoffs and committed no turnovers. Loyola finally ended the run with one second left in the half, but the Bison entered the locker rooms with a 10-6 lead.
It looked like Bucknell's offensive success would carry over into the second half, as Peter Grandolfo scored just 37 seconds into the third to extend the Bison advantage to 11-6, but it was the last goal Bucknell would score until the 8:38 remained in the game. Meanwhile, the Greyhounds scored four unanswered to draw within one of tying before Meyer's fifth of the contest ended the drought and provided a small cushion at 12-10. Loyola proceeded to score four more unanswered goals and led 14-12 with under five minutes to play.
Ethan Gyllenhaal supplied Bucknell's last glimmer of hope, as he disrupted a Loyola pass at the defensive end, picked up the ground ball and weaved through defenders across the field and scored to cut the deficit to 14-13 with 1:38 to go. It was Loyola scoring one final goal, however, with 29 seconds left to seal the game.
The Greyhounds outshot the Bison 20-16 in the second half, and Bucknell was just 1 for 3 on clears in the fourth quarter after being perfect through the first three frames. Bucknell was also 0 for 2 on its two man-up opportunities, while Loyola went 2 for 4.
Jaz Zanelli played all 60 minutes and finished with nine saves in goal for Bucknell. Loyola's Max Watkinson made the start at goalie, was pulled halfway through, and then returned to earn the win. He posted eight saves.
Looking ahead, Bucknell returns to Christy Mathewson-Memorial Stadium on Friday, April 12 to host Le Moyne in non-league action.
