March 23, 2002

EASTON, Pa. (www.lafayette.edu) - The Lafayette women's lacrosse team came back from a two-goal deficit in the second half to defeat Patriot League foe Bucknell, 6-5, on Saturday at a windy Rappolt Field. Heather McClelland notched the gamewinner with 21 seconds remaining as the Leopards won their fourth straight and improve to 4-3 overall and 1-0 in league action.

Bucknell (4-4, 1-2) held Lafayette scoreless for the first fifteen minutes of the game as it jumped out to a 2-0 lead on goals from Suzanne Raffaele at 29:00 and Meredith Wright at 17:09. Sophomore Katie Curtin got the Leopards on the scoreboard at 14:55 with her first goal of the year. The Bison responded with Wright's second goal of the game at 12:30 for a 3-1 Bucknell lead.

Senior co-captain Stephanie Tinney brought the Leopards within one on an unassisted goal at 10:22. Bucknell's Amy Hasler gave the Bison a two-goal cushion with a tally at 10:39. Lafayette sophomore Jennifer Stone notched converted on a free position shot with 4:00 remaining as the Leopards went into halftime trailing, 4-3.

Bucknell quickly jumped to a 5-3 lead on a Hasler's second goal of the game at 27:34. Lafayette's McClelland netted her 18th goal of the season at 16:00 followed by Stone's second of the game at 9:41 for a 5-5 tied game. McClelland notched the gamewinner with :21 seconds remaining to lift Lafayette to a 6-5 win.

Leopard goalie Leela Strong picked up nine saves while facing 15 Bison shots. Bucknell goalie Nicole Kallis made 24 saves between the pipes while facing 38 Lafayette shots. Both teams played aggressively throughout the game, resulting in a total of nine cards handed out by the officials.

Lafayette (4-3, 1-0) travels to Norfolk, Va. to face No. 17 Old Dominion tomorrow at 5 p.m. The Leopards will host league newcomer American on Saturday at 1 p.m.

ScoringFirst Half:Time    Team    Goal                    Assist1-29:00 BU  Suzanne Raffaele        ---1-17:09 BU  Meredith Wright         ---1-14:55 LC  Katie Curtin            ---1-12:30 BU  Wright                  ---1-10:39 BU  Amy Hasler              ---1-10:22 LC  Stephanie Tinney        ---1- 4:00 LC  Jennifer Stone          ---
Second Half:Time    Team    Goal                    Assist2-27:34 BU  Hasler                  ---2- 9:41 LC  Stone                   ---2- 0:21 LC  McClelland              ---