While celebrating Senior Day, the women’s lacrosse team captured an 8-7 victory over Holy Cross on April 5. Despite a 12-9 loss at Lafayette on April 9, the team’s spirit was not dampened due to the Senior Day win.

“Winning against a good team like Holy Cross is always exciting and rewarding but to win on Senior Day, especially by one goal, is something really special,” Kerri Althouse ’14 said. “It was extra thrilling for us not only because it was such a nail-biting game but also because this day was the one set aside to celebrate the lacrosse careers of my fellow seniors and best friends.”

Bison fans in attendance for the Holy Cross game paid tribute to the team’s eight seniors before the game. Katelyn Miller ’14 led the team with three goals and two assists. Lindsey Ferro ’14 continued her momentum from the previous week by dishing two assists and making her mark as the catalyst for the Orange and Blue.

“I couldn’t be more proud of this team. We believed in each other and executed the game plan our coaches had outlined for us perfectly,” Elizabeth Gauf ’14 said. “It was the best way to leave the field after our last home game. I know I speak for all the seniors when I say that this team and program is so special to us.”

The scoring began with Sam Rickels ’16 who found the net nine minutes into the game. Holy Cross answered two minutes later with a goal, but the Bison offense was ignited by four straight goals. Two of those scores came from Miller, while Sophie Kleinert ’14 and Maddy Molinari ’17 added a goal apiece. Ferro assisted Miller on both of her goals. The Crusaders narrowed its deficit to 5-2 before halftime.

Holy Cross bolted out of the gate by scoring 21 seconds into the second half, but the Bison added three more goals to maintain their lead. Miller completed her hat trick to initiate the run and finished by serving assists to Molinari and Claire Switala ’15.

These would be the last Bison goals as Holy Cross made one last dash to regain the lead, scoring the game’s final four goals, including one with 29 seconds left that pulled the Crusaders within one. Goalie Elizabeth Duswalt ’17 displayed the clutch gene once again and made the last-second save to preserve the Senior Day win.

“The final minute was some of the most intense seconds I’ve ever experienced. You know with a team like Holy Cross, they’re not going to go down without a fight,” Althouse said. “They took a shot and Elizabeth Duswalt made an awesome save for the win.”

Caroline Collins ’15 registered four draw controls and Kleinert recovered four ground balls to cap off the second straight Senior Day win over Holy Cross.

Miller and Molinari scored the first two goals against Lafayette and looked like they would grab their fourth straight win. Unfortunately, the Leopards outshot the Bison 25-18 and after Lafayette took the lead at the start of the second half, the Leopards maintained it the rest of the game.

The Bison will face Saint Francis (Pa.) in Loretto, Pa. on April 15.

“I am so thankful to have been given the privilege to play for Bucknell for the past four years. I can’t imagine what kind of experience I would have had without this team,” Gauf said.