LEWISBURG, Pa. – Despite storming all the way back from a five-goal deficit in the second half, the St. Bonaventure women's lacrosse team was unable to seal the deal on the road against Bucknell on Saturday afternoon as the Bison rallied back themselves for a dramatic 14-13 decision. 
 
Though a stretch of seven straight goals between the third and fourth quarters put the Bonnies in prime position for a comeback victory, Bucknell put together the final surge in crunch time.
 
The Bison (3-1) got on the board early with back-to-back scores in the game's third minute, but senior captain Brooke Piper quickly responded with two goals of her own to tie things up.
 
Following Piper's goals, Bucknell began to run away with the lead as they punched in four straight goals to close the first quarter, two of which came on free position shots. As the second quarter opened at a score of 6-2, senior Caroline Sheridan added to the hosts' tally in just the first 30 seconds.
 
Determined to keep the Bonnies afloat, Piper notched her third goal of the game shortly after on a sly toe-drag deke. Unsatisfied with just a hat trick, the captain punched in a fourth goal just four minutes later on a free position attempt.
 
A nearly nine-minute scoreless stretch followed as the two teams jockeyed for possession and opportunities. Multiple solid chances for the Bonnies were stonewalled in that time including a breakaway shot from freshman Riley Milligan and a free position shot from senior Rylee Gonzalez. With 30 seconds to go before the halfway break, sophomore Sidney Van Tassel registered her first score of the contest to break the ice, sending the game to halftime at a score of 8-5.
 
Bucknell struck quickly in the third quarter with two goals before the 11:00 mark, to move the hosts' lead to 10-5. From that point on, the Bonnies did not allow another goal until midway through the fourth quarter, beginning a game-changing 7-0 run to come all the way back. 
 
Van Tassel kicked off the comeback with a goal on a solo dodge in which she sidestepped two Bison defenders before breaking a double team and firing on net.
 
A steady flow of four free position scores followed for SBU as senior Megan Schillinger picked up a hat trick in that third quarter alone, dominating on free position opportunities. Fellow senior Grace Hollenbeck also buried a free position shot and the two programs entered the final quarter tied at 10 goals each.
 
Bonaventure (1-3) rolled with momentum to open the final period as Piper notched her fifth and final score off a quick pass and screen by Schillinger. Freshman Riley Milligan registered a free position score of her own just one minute later to cap the Bonnies' 7-0 sprint.
 
Holding a 12-10 lead with just 10 minutes to play, a green card assessed against Milligan and a yellow card to senior captain Kate Hennessey provided opportunities for Bucknell to score two player-up goals, pulling the game into a 12-12 tie.
 
Bucknell broke the tie with four minutes to go on a transition push toward the net. Shortly after, a foul against SBU set up a free position goal for Bucknell's Caleigh Cummiskey.
 
Not yet ready to go home empty-handed, Van Tassel then added to her success on dodges with an unassisted score with two minutes left, completing her hat trick and setting up a wild finish as the Bonnies looked for a game-tying play.
 
With about 60 seconds to go and possession favoring Bucknell, the SBU defense stepped up with a strong sequence as sophomore Kylie Pfeffer caused a turnover to secure an attempt at a clear. Multiple Bonnies, including Colangelo and Pfeffer, then pushed the ball up the field as time ticked away, being harassed by Bison defenders the whole way.
 
As bodies from both teams hit the turf and chaos ensued on the clear, the referees assessed a green card to Bucknell's Kate Hearns with 14 seconds left. That violation set Bonaventure up with a numbers advantage in the final seconds as the visitors made one final push for a game-tying goal.
 
As the clock resumed following the penalty, Piper searched for and found just enough space for an attempt at a buzzer beater. As she lined up her shot, Bucknell's Catherine Dineen shuffled in between the Bonnies' captain and her target. Piper's shot came in at a blazing pace but drilled Dineen who blocked the shot, effectively ending the visitors' chance at extending the contest to overtime.
 
GAME NOTES

• Colangelo led the team with three caused turnovers to reach the milestone of 100 career caused turnovers. She becomes just the third Bonaventure player to reach that total, moving to 102 for her career.
• Piper recorded the seventh game in her career with five or more goals scored. She now sits at fourth-place all-time in SBU career goals (137) and eighth in points (163).
• Three different Bonnies registered hat tricks in the contest: Piper, Schillinger and Van Tassel.
• SBU led in shots, 25-24, and owned draw controls, 20-8. Both Piper and Schillinger recorded seven draw controls apiece. 
• The Bonnies were 6-for-11 in free position shots while Bucknell converted all four of their tries. Bucknell's defense also caused 16 SBU turnovers including four on failed clear attempts. 

 
QUOTES FROM HEAD COACH LEIGHANN STAUFFER
"We didn't start the way we wanted to and dug ourselves a hole in the first quarter, but I'm proud of how we responded. This game was huge for us to learn from and to better prepare us for the rest of the season heading forward."
 
"Falling short by just one hurts, but the heart we showed in that comeback says a lot about who we are. We'll clean up the slow start and come back even stronger next game."
 
UP NEXT
The Bonnies return home on Wednesday, Feb. 25 to face Robert Morris. First draw is set for 1 p.m. from the Marra Athletics Complex.
 
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