LEWISBURG, PA, – Twenty-third ranked Bucknell (7-2, 1-2 Patriot) got scoring from eight different players en route to a 14-6 victory over Colgate in a Patriot League contest.
 
The first quarter was a physical affair as both teams relied on strong checking and defensive double teams. The Bison drew first blood at 10:09, but Brian Minicus answered into an empty net 33 seconds later off a defensive breakdown. Brendan Jordan assisted. A Colgate failed clear led to a fast break opportunity for Bucknell and the first of two consecutive goals. The second came just six seconds later directly off the faceoff for a 3-1 lead. Minicus followed with wrap-around from right side with 7:41 remaining to pull the Raiders within 3-2, but a Bucknell goal at 2:30 gave the Bison a 4-2 lead at the close of the first quarter.
 
Bucknell owned the second quarter scoring four consecutive goals in the period for an 8-2 lead at the half.
 
Jordan broke the Bison string on an extra man opportunity at 8:14 of the third quarter. Minicus scored his hat trick goal on a wrap-around from the left side at 7:13 to bring the Raiders to within 8-4. Bucknell answered exactly a minute later to regain a five-goal advantage, and pushed the lead back to six at 2:17.
 
The Bison raised the advantage to 11-4, 1:44 into the fourth period. Jack Turner retaliated with his third goal of the season with a short-handed missile from 15 yards out on the top right. Two quick Bison goals ran the score to 13-5. Bucknell scored a third straight goal four and a half minutes later for a 14-5 lead. Minicus tallied his fourth goal of the game from the top right with 2:23 left to close the scoring. Minicus has scored multiple goals in all seven games in 2022 and notched his fifth game with three goals or more.
 
Colgate outshot Bucknell 42-40 and was successful on 17 of 20 clears. Thomas Colucci won 13 of 24 faceoffs in a battle of the second and third most successful faceoff artists in the Patriot League. Matt LaCombe tallied 15 saves in the Raider net. defenseman Aidan Murnane and long stick midfielder Will Rosenblatt each scooped three ground balls and caused a Bison turnover.

FROM THE SOURCE
Head Coach Matt Karweck
"I'm disappointed that we did not compete or execute in this game the way we are accustomed to. Hats off to Bucknell for playing well, but that was not our best effort, and that's on me.

"We have the talent, we have the grit, and we've done the work. Right now, we overthink schemes and second guess our decision-making. And when you do that, you stop using your natural instincts and try to be perfect. What we need, is to go back to the physical, fearless, competitive decision-makers that I know us to be. Luckily, in two short days, we get another opportunity to do just that."

UP NEXT
Colgate (2-5, 1-3 Patriot) will host upstate rival and 7th ranked Cornell University (6-1, 1-1 Ivy) for a 5:00PM face off on Tuesday, March 29.