March 29, 2003

LEWISBURG, Pa.—Bucknell scored with 71 seconds remaining to steal a crucial Patriot League showdown with the Statesmen, 8-7. The loss drops Hobart to 4-3 overall, 3-1 in the league, while Bucknell improves to 5-2, 2-0.

The Statesmen opened the fourth quarter at rainy Christy Mathewson Memorial Stadium with a 6-5 advantage. The Bison erased that lead with a pair of scores five minutes apart to take a 7-6 lead with just over three minutes remaining.

Hobart caught a break with 1:58 showing on the game clock when the Bison were whistled for a push that gave the Statesmen a 30-second man-advantage. Hobart only needed eight.

Senior midfielder Tim Booth, who fired shots at eye level or above all afternoon, rifled a bounce shot between the legs of senior goalie Justin Sussman, to tie the game.

Bucknell won the ensuing faceoff and ripped a shot on senior Mike Borsz, but the Camillus, N.Y. native was up to the task, deflecting the would-be game-winner, but the Bison retained possession, setting up the go-ahead score.

Booth won the ensuing faceoff, allowing first-year attackman Mike Conklin, who had a goal and an assist in the contest, to fire a shot with 63 seconds remaining, but Sussman watched it into his crosse and Bucknell ran out the clock.

Both Borsz and Sussman were exceptional in the cage. Borsz allowed just five even-strength goals all afternoon, while logging 14 saves. Sussman made 16 stops.

A nail-biter from the start, neither team led by more than a single goal. Junior attackman Mark Williamson, who led all scorers with three tallies, opened the scoring just over four minutes into the game. Following a Bucknell goal, senior midfielder Kris Shore put home his fifth goal of the season, but the Bison responded with the next two goals to take a 3-2 lead into the second quarter. Shore finished with a goal and two assists.

The teams traded goals in the second frame to send Bucknell into the locker room with a 4-3 lead.

To start the third, Booth and Williamson scored for the visitors, and the Bison answered with their third man-up goal of the afternoon (on seven opportunities), to knot the game at five-all. Williamson scored again to close the third, setting the stage for the dramatic final 15.