Bucknell University
4-3
South Florida
6-2
Carly Cenci Records Hat Trick in 16-8 Loss to USF
3/11/2025 8:39:00 PM | Women's Lacrosse
Tampa, Fla. — Bucknell women's lacrosse broke their three-game winning streak with a 16-8 loss to South Florida on Tuesday night. The Bison are now 4-3 overall on the season as they head back from their Spring Break Florida trip 1-1.
Carly Cenci led the team in scoring as she earned her first career hat trick in the fourth quarter of the contest against USF. Four other Bison found their way to the back of the net in Caroline Sheridan, Aliza Thir, Alex Macutek, and Alex Nesbitt. Three of those goals were assisted with Nesbitt, Krestinski, and Ava Harris notching the assists.
The third quarter was a major separator in the game as the Bulls dominated that 15-minute period scoring five goals in a row before Nesbitt notched Bucknell's lone goal of the quarter.
The Bison's offense struggled to finish and maintain possession throughout the game. Bucknell recorded 30 shots with 20 of those shots being on goal. The Bison also had 20 turnovers and went 1-for-4 on free-position shots on the night.
The game proved to be an aggressive one on both sides of the field as there were a total of 40 fouls in the 60 minutes of game time. Each team accounted for 20 fouls apiece as they fought diligently throughout.
The first quarter set the tone for the game with USF coming out with an aggressive and speedy front on both offense and defense. The Bulls recorded the first two goals of the game before Sheridan was able to put the Bison on the board. While USF would score two more times in the quarter, they also made a rare defensive error that resulted in an own goal and made it a two-goal game. The second quarter was played at an even level with the defenses of both teams holding strong. The Bulls just outscored the Bison 3-2 in the quarter. While the third was a Bulls scoring frenzy, the final quarter of play reflected the second where it was just about an even scoring bout.
The Bulls defense was a force to be reckoned with as they caused 11 turnovers and held the Bison to 16-for-23 on their clears. The Bison's defense caused nine turnovers.
The Bison, who have struggled on the draw circle this season, started off strong winning multiple draws in a row, but they ultimately ended 12-for-28 on the night.
Colleen Kazanjian played the full 60 minutes in net for Bucknell and recorded 10 saves on the evening.
Bucknell will head back to the northeast for their next game. The Bison are set to open their Patriot League schedule at Boston University on Saturday, March 15 at 4 p.m.
