Moon Township, Pa. ? March 1, 2009 ? In a hard fought contest the Robert Morris University Colonials fell to the Bucknell Bison, 9-7, on Sunday afternoon in their first away contest of the season at Graham Field. The Bison grabbed a huge advantage with 11 free-position shots, converting four times, while the Colonials only had three opportunities, which were all unsuccessful.
Senior Emily Tomlinson (Springfield, Va. / West Springfield) scored over half of the Colonials goals with four, her most of the season. Senior Jennifer Collins (Edgewater, Md. / South River), Sophomore Ashley Trombetta (Sykesville, Md. / Century) and freshman Colleen O'Donnell (Portland, Ore. / St. Mary's Academy) each added one goal in the defeat. Senior Ashley Levering (Glenwood, Md. / Glenelg) had a hand the majority of the Colonial's goals, recording all five of RMU's helpers.
For the Bison, Chelsea Peters led the team with a hat-trick and Carol Donahue and Bonnie Buechel each added a pair of goals in the win.
Tomlinson scored the first goal of the game 45 seconds in off an assist by Levering to give the Colonials the 1-0 edge. Bucknell responded with a free-position goal three minutes later. The two teams continued to trade goals for the next 10 minutes with four apiece.
The Bison broke the trend with 12:27 left in the first half to take the 5-4 lead with their third free-position goal of the half. Two minutes later O'Donnell found the net for her first collegiate score to regain the tie with Bucknell, 5-5.
Only two of the Bison's goals in the first-half did not occur during a free-position attempt, as Bucknell closed out the first segment of action with another free-position goal and the 6-5 lead.
Bucknell increased their lead to 8-5 in the first 10 minutes of the second-half and were also able to hold the Colonials scoreless during that time. With close to seven minutes left in regulation Collins was finally able to get the Colonials on the scoreboard to cut into the Bison lead, 8-6.
Four minutes later Tomlinson netted her fourth goal of the game, but the Bison were able to connect one last time with four seconds left on the clock to grab the 9-7 victory.
Junior Erica Webb (Arnold, Md. / Broadneck) finished the game with 12 saves, while Bucknell's Alyssa DeLorenz finished with 11. The Colonials finished the game with 10 draw controls to Bucknell's 7 and triggered off 26 shots to the Bison's 28.
The Colonials continue their seven-game road stretch in Buffalo, N.Y. on March 8 to take on Canisius at 1:00 p.m.
