ST. BONAVENTURE, N.Y. – Senior Rylee Gonzalez's four goals were not quite enough as the St. Bonaventure women's lacrosse team was edged by Colgate in its season opener on Friday afternoon, falling by a score of 14-12 at the Marra Athletics Complex in a wintry start to the spring season with snow falling on and off during the contest.

A back-and-forth affair saw the scoring start about five minutes into the first quarter as sophomore Sidney Van Tassel buried the Bonnies' first goal of 2026 off an assist from fellow sophomore Maddie Pieloch.
 
Bonaventure seniors quickly added two more goals in the following five minutes as captain Brooke Piper scored on a free position shot before Grace Hollenbeck registered a solo goal.
 
Despite a strong opening from the hosts in the first quarter, Colgate came storming back before the first buzzer with three straight goals thanks to a duo of green cards called on the Bonnies leading to a numbers advantage for the visitors. Two of those scores were posted by the Raiders' Gracie DiSimone. Pieloch responded with her first goal of the season in the quarter's final 15 seconds to reestablish Bona's lead at 4-3 heading into the second period.
 
The two squads continued trading punches early in the second quarter as Colgate's Caroline Panzirer quickly knotted the game at a score of 4-4. Junior Olivia Peeler, senior Rylee Gonzalez and freshman Riley Milligan each found the back of the net before halftime, but the Raiders responded each time and brought the game to a 7-7 tie at the break.
 
Colgate surged with energy to start the second half as Aubrey McMahon scored a goal in just under 30 seconds to steal an advantage. Over seven minutes of game time then passed before the Bonnies broke even with Gonzalez's second goal of the game.
 
Gonzalez scored again in the final minute of the third quarter, but not before the Raiders notched a trio of their own goals to send the game into its final period at a score of 11-9 in favor of the visitors.
 
Panzirer opened the fourth-quarter scoring with her second and third goals of the game, giving Colgate a 13-9 advantage. Van Tassel answered back after netting a free-position goal with around five minutes to play, but another tally from McMahon just 30 seconds later pushed the visitors to a comfortable 14-10 lead.
 
Despite a last-ditch effort from the Bonnies including goals from Piper and Gonzalez in the final three minutes, Colgate walked off with a 14-12 season-opening victory.
 
Gonzalez ended the day as the hosts' leading scorer with four goals and an assist, also scooping a groundball and adding a caused turnover.
 
The group of Peeler, Hollenbeck, and senior captains Brit Colangelo and Kate Hennessey all totaled exactly three groundballs and one caused turnover each. Pieloch also secured three groundballs in her action.
 
Piper paced the Bonnies with six draw controls on the afternoon, adding three points (2G-1A). The two programs ended even on draws with 13 wins each.
 
Freshman Meredith Kearns started in net with sophomore Judy Mahoney playing for the final 17:34 of game time and making three saves.

Aubrey McMahon totaled a game-high seven points (5G-2A) for the Raiders (1-0). 
 

QUOTES FROM HEAD COACH LEIGHANN STAUFFER
"We knew that was going to be a tough game going into it for our first game of the season. I think we matched up pretty evenly and the score showed that. We just have to be more disciplined in certain situations, but I am proud of the showing our team left out there today."

"We had seven different people score goals, a lot of people making big impacts coming off the bench and a lot of energy. Obviously, we wanted to come out on top, but this is a good place to be for the first game of the season."

UP NEXT
The Bonnies return to action on Friday, Feb. 13 as they host Long Island at the Marra Athletics Complex. The opening draw is scheduled for 12 p.m.

------
For the latest news on St. Bonaventure athletics, stay connected on social media. Follow the Bonnies on X @GoBonnies and get women's lacrosse updates @BonniesWLAX. Keep up with the Bonnies on Facebook /GoBonnies and on Instagram @GoBonnies. Bonnies women's lacrosse can be found on Instagram @bonnieswlax.