LEWISBURG, Pa. – Women's lacrosse (1-2) staged an impressive comeback on Saturday afternoon, defeating Bucknell (2-2) 12-11 for its first win of the season. La Salle was down by as many as five goals in the first half, but a strong second frame in which the Explorers out-shot Bucknell 21-8 and allowed only one goal erased the deficit. Freshman Tori Rolon scored the final three goals for La Salle, including the winner with 3:14 left. Junior Bridget Ruskey finished with a hattrick and a game-high five draw controls. It's the biggest comeback win for La Salle since an 11-10 result vs. Liberty on March 15, 2014.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• Ruskey struck 50 seconds into the game to give La Salle an early lead. Bucknell responded with four straight goals. The Explorers closed the gap to 6-4 by scoring three of the next five goals.
• The Bison widened their lead by rattling off three straight, but a double from Ruskey brought the score to 9-6 at the 7:38 mark.
• Neither team scored much over the final seven minutes. Bucknell extended its advantage to 10-6, then Rolon returned the deficit to three with her first collegiate goal with only 20 seconds remaining.
• Three straight goals from La Salle out of the break leveled things at 10-10. The home side retook the lead at the 19:55 mark but wouldn't score again. Rolon struck at 6:34 to tie it and then found the winner three minutes later.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Rolon led all players with four goals, three of which came after the half.
• Ruskey peppered the net with eight shots on goal and converting a hattrick. Classmate Sarah Elias was the other Explorer with multiple goals, recording a brace.
• Arguably the biggest impact came from junior goalkeeper Molly Loughlin. La Salle's number 33 saw her first action of the season when coming into the game at 8:45 remaining in the first half and down 9-5. She finished with six saves, allowing two goals and only one score in the second frame.
• Junior Emily Johnston finished with a goal, a team-high four ground balls and second on the team in draw controls with four. 
• Classmate Priya Kavuru tied the game high with four caused turnover, also scooping up two ground balls.
• The Explorers dialed up the intensity in the second half, upping their shots on goal from nine in the first to 16 in the second. They recorded 11 ground balls in the second to five in the first and cut down on turnovers from 14 in the first to nine in the second.
• Having not played the Bison since 2008, the Blue & Gold levels the all-time record at 2-2.

UP NEXT

• La Salle heads down Broad Street on Tuesday for a Big 5 matchup at Temple. First draw is at 3 p.m.