Previewing Bucknell’s 2020 men’s college lacrosse schedule

The Bucknell Bison are the 66th team in our 2020 men’s college lacrosse schedule preview series and the ninth and final team from the Patriot League. Bucknell finished 6-9 overall in 2019 and 4-4 in Patriot League play. The Bison lost to Boston University in the Patriot League quarterfinals.

Here’s their entire 2020 schedule:

Who’s In?

• Furman Paladins (2/1)
• Sacred Heart Pioneers (2/15)
• Binghamton Bearcats (2/25)
• Canisius Golden Griffins (3/17)

Who’s Out?

• Maryland Terrapins (11-6 L)
• Richmond Spiders (13-11 L)
• North Carolina Tar Heels (12-7 L)

Circle These Dates

• 2/9 at Bryant: Despite a lower than usual record for Bryant, the Bulldogs were a very tough team to play. Both teams were even in scoring in three of the game’s four quarters except for the third. The Bison shutout the Bulldogs 3-0 in the quarter which also began a 4-0 run from Will Yorke. Luke Carracciolo is back in goal for Bryant and looks to be one of the best keepers in the country.
• 2/22 vs. Ohio State: For three quarters, it was all Ohio State as they looked like they would breeze by the Bison for a huge win. But the fourth quarter came and Bucknell put together a couple of good runs to make things interesting late. It was a two-goal game with 1:30 left before Jack Jasinski sealed things late. Yorke had a big game with six goals, which matched the overall total from starting attackmen Tommy Sopko, Alston Tarry, and Matthew Barkauskas.
• 3/7 at Boston University: The Bison lost both matchups against the Terriers last season, with a defeat in the Patriot League quarterfinals ending their 2019 season. Despite having a three-goal lead midway through the third quarter in the regular season meeting, Bucknell allowed eight of the final nine goals to BU before allowing 10 of the first 11 goals in their rematch a month and a half later. BU loses some key contributors on offense in Chris Gray and James Burr, which should help the Bison.
• 3/28 vs. Army West Point: The second half of last year’s meeting was all about runs. Army began with a 3-0 run that technically started with 28 seconds left in the second quarter. Bucknell then responded with a two-goal run before the Black Knights scored five straight. The Bison tied it thanks to a 4-0 run, but Brendan Nichtern orchestrated a two-goal run with 40 seconds left to give Army the win. He had eight points and was one of three Black Knights with four goals alongside Nate Jones and Miles Silva.
• 4/4 at Lehigh: It feels like Bucknell always has some sort of upset or two every season, whether it’s a huge one or a mild upset in conference play. That upset came against Lehigh at home as the Bison scored the final two goals of the game to win by two. Sopko and Yorke each had matching lines of three goals and two assists. Christian Klipstein kept Bucknell in it with 15 saves, but he has since graduated.