April 15, 2008

Final Stats

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. - Bucknell sophomore attack Carol Donohue (West Babylon, N.Y./West Babylon) traveled to Staten Island on Tuesday afternoon on pace to break the school records for points and assists in a season. By the time the team turned back around for the ride home, she had obliterated both marks with an incredible 13-point game, leading the Bison to a 19-13 victory over Wagner in the process.

Donohue had a hand in each of Bucknell's first 10 scores of the game, and she finished with five goals and eight assists. The 13 points represent a new school record and are the most in all of Division I women's lacrosse this season, while the eight assists establishes new school and Patriot League records, and is tied for the most in the country in 2008.

Donohue also broke Sue Gray's 24-year-old school record for points in a season, and she smashed Meredith Wright's program record for assists in a season that had stood since 2003. Donohue now has 33 goals and 33 assists for 66 points this year.

Most important, Donohue helped Bucknell snap a three-game losing streak and even its overall record at 6-6. The Bison scored five of the game's first six goals, then watched the Seahawks pull back within one at 7-6 with 9:06 to play in the first half.

But Bucknell exploded for six goals in just 3:10 - Donohue started the run with two assists and a goal in a span of just 52 seconds - and the Bison finished the half on a 7-0 run to take a commanding 14-6 lead to the locker room.

Wagner scored the first three goals of the second half to make it 14-9, but the Bison answered with its own 3-0 run, the last two coming on Donohue goals for her final points of the day.

Donohue was not the only Bucknell player to have a big scoring day. Freshman Julia Braun (Tomkins Cove, N.Y./North Rockland) scored four goals. Chelsea Peters (Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y./Cold Spring Harbor) had three goals and an assist, and Bonnie Buechel (South Orange, N.J./Columbia) and Paige Kasschau (Rockville Centre, N.Y./South Side) both added two goals and one assist. Becca Devine (Arlington, Va./St. Stephen's & St. Agnes), another first-year player, also scored twice.

Buechel and Lauren Deitrich (Collegeville, Pa./Hill School) both finished with seven draw controls, as Bucknell won that battle 20-14. Buechel had five ground balls and Deitrich four. The Bison outshot Wagner 35-29.

Kelly Blundin led Wagner (2-11) with four goals and two assists, while Dana Marchitelli added two goals and two assists.

Bucknell wraps up its home schedule and its Patriot League schedule on Saturday, when Lehigh visits Graham Field at 1 p.m. Deitrich and Ashley Flood (Westfield, N.J./Lawrenceville School), Bucknell's two seniors, will be honored prior to the contest.

Records Set by Carol Donohue

13 Points in a Game:
-- Sets Bucknell record (old record was 12 by Melissa Montefusco vs. Niagara on March 30, 2002 and Sue Gray vs. Northeastern on Apr. 13, 1984).
-- Most in Division I this season (previous high was 11 by Katie Rowan of Syracuse vs. Georgetown)
-- Tied for 9th in NCAA history (record is 16, done twice, most recently by Stacey Morlang of Loyola vs. American in 2002)

8 Assists in a Game:
-- Sets Bucknell record (old record was 7 by Pam Brooks of Northeastern on Apr. 13, 1984).
-- Ties Patriot League record (also held by Maddy Booth of Lafayette vs. Central Connecticut on Apr. 4, 2006).
-- Tied for most in Division I this year (also done by Kristen Slahor of Ohio State vs. UC Davis and by Brenna Houghton of St. Bonaventure vs. Marist).
-- Tied for 2nd in NCAA history (record is 9 by Amy Perry of Mercyhurst vs. Fredonia State in 1999).

33 Assists in a Season:
-- Sets Bucknell record (old record was 27 by Meredith Wright in 2003)
-- Third-most in Patriot League history

66 Points in a Season:
-- Sets Bucknell record (old record was 62 by Sue Gray in 1984)

48 Assists in a Career:
-- Now third-most in Bucknell history.