Josh Markowitz

Box Score

Bucknell BUCKNELL 8-4, 4-2

American AMERICAN 3-10, 2-4

Bucknell BUCKNELL

8-4, 4-2

Final

Apr. 15, 2026

American AMERICAN

3-10, 2-4

Score By Periods
Team	1	2	3	4	F
Bucknell BUCKNELL	5	4	2	1	12
American AMERICAN	1	3	7	0	11

Game Recap: Lacrosse | 4/15/2026 5:18:00 PM

Lacrosse Falls Short After Second Half Comeback Against Bucknell, 12-11

WASHINGTON - After erasing a five-goal halftime deficit, the American University lacrosse team came up a goal short against Bucknell on Wednesday afternoon at the Jacobs Complex. Reagan Murdoch and Anastasia Byrnes both recorded hat tricks in the comeback effort, while Kellie Linehan and Lauren Appleby combined for 18 draw controls to complete AU's best day at the circle this season. 12-11 was the final score, dropping AU to 2-5 in Patriot League play.

Notable

Linehan's 10 draw controls and Appleby's eight are both career-highs. The senior captain continues to lead AU in the category with 49, while the sophomore Appleby trails behind her with 33.
The Eagles totaled 20 draw controls to Bucknell's five, a new season-high and largest margin of advantage in the circle.
Linehan added a goal, assist, caused turnover, and a ground ball to round out an outstanding day.
Byrnes' hat trick is her second straight, and Murdoch's trio brings her to 38 goals on the year.
The Eagles caused 12 of Bucknell's 15 turnovers, but committed 20 of their own. Rayah Johnson, Sammie Buonaccorsi, and Byrnes forced a pair each, with Buonaccorsi and Masengarb both picking up three ground balls.
AU's defense also forced Bucknell to fail on five clearing attempts.
Defenders Deirdre Brown and Buonaccorsi both recorded assists.
Brooke Hill made five saves on 14 Bison shots on frame.

How it Happened

Bucknell gained control early, going on a 4-0 run after Julia Pope tied the game 1-1 at the 10:41 mark of the first quarter. Caleigh Cummiskey, Megan Krestinski, Katie Browne, and Alex Macutek found the back of the net to make the score 5-1.
After Brown found Silvius for a goal in transition, Browne scored two more before Krestinski and Regan Sansiveiro added to the lead. Linehan and Byrnes converted back-to-back free position chances in response, leaving AU behind 9-4 at the half.
The Eagles found their scoring spurt in the third quarter, putting six unanswered past Bella Crowley in a six-minute span.
Down 10-4 after a Cummiskey goal in the third period's opening minutes, Rachel Kolton knocked a shot off the cross bar and over the goal line. Less than a minute later, Buonaccorsi fed the ball to Murdoch on the breakout to add another.
Next, it was Aine Powers rifling a shot to the top of the cage after Byrnes dumped it off to her to finish off a quality offensive possession for the Eagles. Linehan found Murdoch in front of goal 34 seconds later to make it 10-8.
Byrnes bounced a shot in from just outside the crease, then Murdoch finished off another connection with Linehan to tie the game 10-10 at the 6:44 mark.
Cummiskey converted a free position chance to give the lead back to the visitors, but Byrnes answered with a free position strike of her own to tie the game going into the fourth.
Krestinksi got Bucknell back in front 17 seconds into the final frame, and not another goal was scored the rest of the way.
The Eagles struggled to generate chances, with Annabelle Jackson recorded their first shot of the quarter at the 3:11 mark. Linehan got AU's best look on goal with just over a minute remaining, but Crowley came up with a quality save.
Freshman Ella Daehnke made a crucial defensive play with 30 seconds left, drawing a charge on Krestinski on the ride to get her team the ball back on Bucknell's end.
After Lindsay Teeters called a timeout, Byrnes got the ball to Linehan at the end of a chaotic play as she fought through traffic in the eight meter. With two defenders in front of her, Linehan put her shot on goal, but Crowley was there to make the save.