Women's Lacrosse Hosts Patriot League First Round for First Time in Program History

Women's Lacrosse Hosts Patriot League First Round for First Time in Program History

4/24/2026 8:29:00 AM | Women's Lacrosse

LEWISBURG, Pa. — Bucknell women's lacrosse is set to host its Patriot League first round game against Holy Cross on Sunday, April 26 at 1 p.m. This will be the first time in program history that the Bison will be hosting a conference tournament game as they ended as the fourth seed in the Patriot League.

Bucknell currently sits at 9-6 overall and 5-4 in the Patriot League after falling to Loyola on Thursday. Holy Cross enters the playoffs as the fifth seed with an overall 7-9 record and a 5-4 Patriot League record.

Holy Cross leads the series with the Bison 18-17 since the teams met for the first time in 1991. Earlier this season the Bison ended the Crusaders six-game winning streak over Bucknell by narrowly defeating them in Worcester.

Bucknell (9-6, 5-4 PL) vs Holy Cross (7-9, 5-4 PL)

When: Sunday, April 26— 1 p.m.

Where: Christy Mathewson-Memorial Stadium - Lewisburg, Pa.

Watch: ESPN+

Live Stats: bucknellbison.com

Bucknell at a Glance

Bucknell enters the contest 9-6 overall and 5-4 in the Patriot League with home wins over Lafayette, Colgate, Youngstown State, UMBC, St. Bonaventure and Rider as well as road wins over American, Lehigh and Holy Cross.
The Bison have faced road losses to Penn State, Arizona State, #23 Loyola and #5 Navy. Bucknell has home losses which came at the hands of #22 Army and Boston University.
Caleigh Cummiskey leads the Bison in scoring with 45 goals.
Megan Krestinski leads Bucknell in assists with 26.
Krestinski leads the team in total points with 69.
Krestinski leads the team in draw controls with 29.
Jess Leon leads the team in ground balls with 42.
Leon leads Bucknell in caused turnovers with 26.
Bella Crowley is the Bison starting goalie. She has played in and started all 15 games for Bucknell and has recorded an overall save percentage of .407. She has 112 saves and 163 goals against for a goals against average of 11.99.
Caleigh Cummiskey has earned Patriot League Rookie of the Week three times so far this season (2/9,3/2,4/6).
Megan Krestinski earned Patriot League Attacker of the Week once so far this season (3/30).
Bella Crowley earned Patriot League Goalkeeper of the Week once so far this season (3/30).
Jess Leon was named to the 2026 Preseason All-Patriot League Team after a strong 2025 campaign.
The 2026 women's lacrosse captains are Katie Browne, Cat Dineen, Megan Krestinski and Caroline Sheridan.
Bucknell welcomed two new assistant coaches in the offseason; Emily Mitarotonda and Emma Telatovich.
The Bison also welcomed 12 freshmen this season, the largest class amongst the team.
Bucknell returned 26 players from the 2025 roster including 2025 All-Patriot League Second Team players Megan Krestinski and Jess Leon.
Bucknell lost top offensive powerhouses Allie Boyce and Taylor McClain to graduation.
In 2025, Bucknell went 6-10 overall and 2-7 in Patriot League play with its two conference wins coming against American and Lehigh.

Bucknell's Last Time Out

Despite a 15-9 loss to Loyola (Md.), Bucknell women's lacrosse, for the first time in program history, will be hosting a Patriot League tournament game thanks to Holy Cross defeating Boston University earlier this afternoon.
In their loss to the Greyhounds, the Bison kept the game close throughout the first half and even held multiple leads, before the third quarter created separation and secured the win for Loyola. The first quarter was a defensive masterclass as it ended with just a 2-1 scoreline in favor of the Bison. Megan Krestinski got back-to-back goals midway through and Bella Crowley came up big with two saves to help Bucknell earn that early one-goal lead. The second quarter went in favor of the Greyhounds as they out-scored Bucknell 4-2 to take a 5-4 lead into halftime. Bella Crowley kept it close, coming up with three more saves, including two free-position saves. The third quarter went all Loyola as it held Bucknell scoreless and tacked on six goals of its own to make it 11-4. The fourth quarter was more back-and-forth play and Bucknell put-scored Loyola 5-4, but it wouldn't be enough to get the win.
Megan Krestinski led Bucknell's scoring as she notched three points on three goals, bringing her just two points away from tying Bucknell's single-season points record. Caleigh Cummiskey followed with two goals and Alex Nesbitt notched two points on one goal and one assist. Kat Reynolds, Estella Geller and Regan Sansiviero rounded out Bucknell scoring with one goal each.
The draw control battle went heavily in Loyola's direction as it won 21 of the 26 draws to help them pull away in the game. Krestinski and Alex Macutek led the efforts for Bucknell with two draws apiece.
Loyola also won the caused turnover battle as they recorded 10 to Bucknell's 6. The Bison recorded one less turnover than the Greyhounds with 12, but it wasn't enough to combat the draw control difference. Six different Bison recorded one caused turnover in the game.

Holy Cross at a Glance

The Crusaders enter the playoffs 7-9 overall and 5-4 in the Patriot league, just missing out on a hosting spot due to Bucknell holding the tiebreaker over them.
Holy Cross' four conference victories this season came against Lafayette, Lehigh, Colgate and #17 Loyola.
Hadley Cepeil leads the team in scoring with 40 goals.
Kate Avitabile leads Holy Cross in assists with 49.
Avitabile leads the team in total points with 59 (10G / 49A)
Racheli Levy-Smith leads the Crusaders in ground balls with 39.
Levy-Smith leads Holy Cross in caused turnovers with 37.
Levy-Smith leads the Crusaders in draw controls with 170.
Mackenzie Creagh has been the starting goalie for the Crusaders. She sports a .410 save percentage and has 137 saves and 197 goals against for a 12.67 goals against average.

The Bucknell / Holy Cross Series

This will be the 36th meeting between Bucknell and Holy Cross in program history.
In the first meeting between the two teams in 1991, where Bucknell won 14-2.
Holy Cross leads the overall series 18-17.
Bucknell is on a one-game winning streak over Holy Cross after defeating them 12-11 in Worcester earlier this season.