Saturday, March 15
Hamilton, N.Y.
1 p.m.
Bucknell University
3-4, 1-2PL
18
at
17
Colgate
5-3, 2-1PL
1
2
3
4
F
Bucknell
6
3
4
5
18
Colgate
3
7
4
3
17
Photo by: Bob Latchford
Men’s Lacrosse Knocks Off No. 15 Colgate in Wild 18-17 Affair
3/15/2025 4:21:00 PM | Men's Lacrosse
HAMILTON, N.Y. – On a day when Bucknell and Colgate combined to put 35 goals on the board, it was goalie Luke Renaud who came up with two critical saves in the final minute to help the Bison knock off the 15th-ranked Raiders 18-17 on Saturday afternoon at Andy Kerr Stadium.
Michael Meyer recorded five goals and five assists for a career-best 10-point day, Connor Davis tallied three goals and a career-high four assists, and Luke Brunner recorded a natural hat trick in the third quarter to help the Bison erase a four-goal deficit. Meyer, who was huge in the fourth quarter, tied the game at 17-17 with his fifth goal of the day, and then Davis fired home the go-ahead goal one minute later.
Davis is now one goal away from tying Justin Zackey's Bucknell career record. Davis had never recorded three assists in a game during his brilliant career, but he bagged a hat trick of helpers in the first quarter alone – all coming on the man-up unit – and his fourth of the day set up Meyer to tie the game at 16-all midway through a frantic fourth quarter.
Bucknell put an end to its four-game losing streak and improved to 3-4 overall and 1-2 in the Patriot League. Colgate (5-3, 2-1 PL) had won five in a row coming into the game. The Raiders' only previous losses came on the road to ranked Penn State and Virginia teams on the road to start the season.
The Bison were looking good early, as those three EMO goals helped spark an 8-3 start. Davis fed Cam Doolan twice and Meyer once as Bucknell went 3-for-3 with a man advantage in the first quarter, and then Meyer and Davis scored back-to-back in the first four minutes of the second period to make it 8-3.
Colgate roared back, scoring seven straight goals in a span of only 6:21 to take a 10-8 lead. Davis came up with a clutch play just before halftime to stem the tide. He stripped a Colgate middie on the ride, nabbed the ground ball, and dodged one defender before burying the shot to make it a 10-9 game at the half.
Rory Connor, who had a huge day with six goals and five assists, scored twice himself and then fed Jack Turner for a 3-0 run to start the third quarter, and the Raiders took their largest lead of the day at 13-9.
Brunner, who got the start with the first midfield line, came alive in the third quarter with three straight Bison goals. Peter Grandolfo scored with 1:08 left in the period to make it 14-13, and then freshman Anthony Panetti beat the shot clock from way downtown early in the third to tie it at 14.
The two teams traded punches over the next seven minutes, and on three separate occasions Meyer scored to quickly answer a Colgate goal. Meyer tied the game at 15-15, 16-16, and 17-17, the last an unassisted tally with 5:01 to play. Steven Pepe won the ensuing faceoff, and after Matt LaCombe came up with a save, Peter Grandolfo fed Davis for the go-ahead score.
John Young forced a turnover and Louie Germain picked up the ground ball, giving the Bison a possession up a goal in the final four minutes. Bucknell melted the shot clock, and Meyer's attempt was wide of the mark as time expired.
Renaud made sure the 18 goals were enough. He made a terrific save on Hunter Drouin with 49 seconds left, and Bucknell cleared. After a timeout, the Raiders forced a turnover on the sideline and had one final chance with 18 seconds left. Connor skipped a shot wide with 4.5 remaining, and on the restart the Raiders fed Drouin on the crease, but Renaud smothered his quick-stick attempt as the horn sounded and the Bison bench rushed the field in celebration.
The Connor brothers combined for 16 points for Colgate. In addition to Rory's 11, Liam Connor had four goals and an assist. Turner also had four goals and one assist, and Ryan Favaro logged two goals and three assists.
The stat sheet was as close as the final score. Both teams took 45 shots, and Bucknell led 19-18 in faceoffs and 28-23 in ground balls. Bison goalies Jaz Zanelli and Renaud made six saves apiece.
The 35 combined goals were one shy of the Bucknell record. The Bison played 36-goal games against Towson (24-12 loss) in 1990 and Hobart (28-8 loss) in 1978. The 17 goals allowed tied the school record for the most in a win. Bucknell downed Gettysburg by the same 18-17 scoreline in 1983. This was Bucknell's first win over a ranked opponent since beating No. 19 Lehigh 14-7 in 2018.
Davis now has 137 goals and 160 points in his career. His next goal will tie Hall-of-Famer Justin Zackey's school record, which has stood since 1994. Davis also ranks eighth all-time in career points.
He will go for the record next Saturday when the Bison host Lehigh at noon at Christy Mathewson-Memorial Stadium.
Michael Meyer recorded five goals and five assists for a career-best 10-point day, Connor Davis tallied three goals and a career-high four assists, and Luke Brunner recorded a natural hat trick in the third quarter to help the Bison erase a four-goal deficit. Meyer, who was huge in the fourth quarter, tied the game at 17-17 with his fifth goal of the day, and then Davis fired home the go-ahead goal one minute later.
Davis is now one goal away from tying Justin Zackey's Bucknell career record. Davis had never recorded three assists in a game during his brilliant career, but he bagged a hat trick of helpers in the first quarter alone – all coming on the man-up unit – and his fourth of the day set up Meyer to tie the game at 16-all midway through a frantic fourth quarter.
Bucknell put an end to its four-game losing streak and improved to 3-4 overall and 1-2 in the Patriot League. Colgate (5-3, 2-1 PL) had won five in a row coming into the game. The Raiders' only previous losses came on the road to ranked Penn State and Virginia teams on the road to start the season.
The Bison were looking good early, as those three EMO goals helped spark an 8-3 start. Davis fed Cam Doolan twice and Meyer once as Bucknell went 3-for-3 with a man advantage in the first quarter, and then Meyer and Davis scored back-to-back in the first four minutes of the second period to make it 8-3.
Colgate roared back, scoring seven straight goals in a span of only 6:21 to take a 10-8 lead. Davis came up with a clutch play just before halftime to stem the tide. He stripped a Colgate middie on the ride, nabbed the ground ball, and dodged one defender before burying the shot to make it a 10-9 game at the half.
Rory Connor, who had a huge day with six goals and five assists, scored twice himself and then fed Jack Turner for a 3-0 run to start the third quarter, and the Raiders took their largest lead of the day at 13-9.
Brunner, who got the start with the first midfield line, came alive in the third quarter with three straight Bison goals. Peter Grandolfo scored with 1:08 left in the period to make it 14-13, and then freshman Anthony Panetti beat the shot clock from way downtown early in the third to tie it at 14.
The two teams traded punches over the next seven minutes, and on three separate occasions Meyer scored to quickly answer a Colgate goal. Meyer tied the game at 15-15, 16-16, and 17-17, the last an unassisted tally with 5:01 to play. Steven Pepe won the ensuing faceoff, and after Matt LaCombe came up with a save, Peter Grandolfo fed Davis for the go-ahead score.
John Young forced a turnover and Louie Germain picked up the ground ball, giving the Bison a possession up a goal in the final four minutes. Bucknell melted the shot clock, and Meyer's attempt was wide of the mark as time expired.
Renaud made sure the 18 goals were enough. He made a terrific save on Hunter Drouin with 49 seconds left, and Bucknell cleared. After a timeout, the Raiders forced a turnover on the sideline and had one final chance with 18 seconds left. Connor skipped a shot wide with 4.5 remaining, and on the restart the Raiders fed Drouin on the crease, but Renaud smothered his quick-stick attempt as the horn sounded and the Bison bench rushed the field in celebration.
Luke Renaud shuts the door again at the buzzer and the Bison win!!!! #rayBucknell @ESPN | @PatriotLeagueTV pic.twitter.com/YbPh1QV2PH
— Bucknell Men's Lax (@Bucknell_MLAX) March 15, 2025
The Connor brothers combined for 16 points for Colgate. In addition to Rory's 11, Liam Connor had four goals and an assist. Turner also had four goals and one assist, and Ryan Favaro logged two goals and three assists.
The stat sheet was as close as the final score. Both teams took 45 shots, and Bucknell led 19-18 in faceoffs and 28-23 in ground balls. Bison goalies Jaz Zanelli and Renaud made six saves apiece.
The 35 combined goals were one shy of the Bucknell record. The Bison played 36-goal games against Towson (24-12 loss) in 1990 and Hobart (28-8 loss) in 1978. The 17 goals allowed tied the school record for the most in a win. Bucknell downed Gettysburg by the same 18-17 scoreline in 1983. This was Bucknell's first win over a ranked opponent since beating No. 19 Lehigh 14-7 in 2018.
Davis now has 137 goals and 160 points in his career. His next goal will tie Hall-of-Famer Justin Zackey's school record, which has stood since 1994. Davis also ranks eighth all-time in career points.
He will go for the record next Saturday when the Bison host Lehigh at noon at Christy Mathewson-Memorial Stadium.
Team Stats
BUCKNELL
COLGATE
Shots
45
45
Turnovers
11
10
Caused Turnovers
5
6
Faceoffs Won
19
18
Extra-Man Opps
6
3
Ground Balls
28
23
Game Leaders
Players
G
5
A
5
FO
-
Pen
-
GB
1
CT
0
G
3
A
0
FO
-
Pen
1-30
GB
1
CT
0
G
3
A
4
FO
-
Pen
-
GB
2
CT
0
G
2
A
1
FO
-
Pen
-
GB
0
CT
0
Players Mentioned
M
/ Men's LacrosseA
/ Men's LacrosseM
/ Men's Lacrosse
D
/ Men's Lacrosse
M
/ Men's LacrosseA
/ Men's Lacrosse
A
/ Men's Lacrosse
F/O
/ Men's Lacrosse
G
/ Men's Lacrosse
LSM
/ Men's Lacrosse
G
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