Bulldogs use six-goal fourth quarter to secure comeback victory, 11-9, over Hartford Saturday

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Despite trailing for much of the contest, the Bryant University men's lacrosse team ripped off six goals in the fourth quarter to complete an 11-9 comeback victory over the University of Hartford Saturday at the Bryant Turf Complex.

The Bulldogs (1-2) entered the final period trailing the Hawks (0-1), 8-5, after a Shane Morrell (Glen Mills, Pa.) goal wrapped up third-quarter scoring with 11:38 left in the frame. It was the first of back-to-back scores for the junior attack and also marked the start of seven-straight Bryant tallies, a streak that would give the home side its first lead of the game and run the clock down to the final minute of play.

After Kenny Massa (Huntington, N.Y.) forced a Hartford turnover in the opening seconds of the fourth, the redshirt-freshman picked up the ground ball and carried into the offensive zone, feeding the ball to Morrell for a quick one-timer past Hawk netminder Ryan Vanderford just 50 seconds into the stanza.

A slash called on Justin Huggins would lead to the second of two man-up goals for the Black and Gold with 9:23 left to play – this one a Brian Schlansker (Glenville, N.Y.) laser that found net above Vanderford's head off a pass from junior middie Collins Gantz (Denver, Colo.).

Sophomore first-line midfielder Ryan Sharpe (Poway, Calif.) would tie the game with his second of three scores on the day with 7:51 remaining in regulation, assisted by rookie linemate Tom Kennedy (Farmingdale, N.Y.), and Kennedy would deposit the ball in the lower corner as the clock ticked below the four-minute mark to give the hosts their first advantage of the day, 9-8.

Sharpe and Kennedy would each record one more to up the Bulldogs' lead to 11-8 with only 46 seconds left on the clock, and while Brian Monks would put an end to Bryant's scoring streak eight seconds later, the Black and Gold would complete the come-from-behind win for the team's first victory of the 2015 campaign.

"That was one of the greatest fourth quarters we've ever had here," said ninth-year head coach Mike Pressler. "It was a great win for us in the fact that Gunnar Waldt and Kevin Massa were subpar today, and our first midfield really rose to the occasion in the second half."

Sophomore attack Tucker James (Essex Fells, N.J.) and Sharpe each registered his first hat trick of the season for the Bulldogs, while Kennedy finished the afternoon with three points off two goals and an assist. Morrell would also record a pair of tallies, while Gantz dished out two helpers with four ground balls on the tilt.

"For us, the point of emphasis was midfield play overall, and the second half from our first midfield was the difference in the game," said Pressler.

Senior attack Kevin O'Shea was the star for the Hawks, registering a hat trick of his own while also adding a pair of assists for a game-best five points despite the loss. Adam Yee added two goals and two helpers while Ty Schuldt came off the bench to get on the board twice as well. Freshman faceoff specialist Dylan Protesto dished out a pair of assists while winning the battle at the X over Bulldog senior Kevin Massa (Huntington, N.Y.), going 13-for-23 on the day.

Hartford kicked off the scoring with a pair of goals in the opening five minutes of the game before Sharpe got on the board for the first time with 9:20 left in the first frame. Brendan Gates and O'Shea gave the visitors a 4-1 advantage with scores just a minute apart before James ripped off a natural hat trick, netting three-consecutive goals to bring the score back to an even 4-4 entering the second quarter. James's trio of tallies came over just 1:43 of action and included a man-up goal (assisted by Gantz) and a pair of unassisted scores.

But the second frame was all Hartford, with O'Shea, Schuldt and Yee rattling off the only three goals of the stanza for a 7-4 Hawk lead at the halftime break.

Schuldt doubled up the Bulldogs with a goal 1:05 into the third, 8-4, but the score would mark the final Hartford goal until the final minute of regulation, as the Bulldogs' seven-goal tear spanning the third and fourth quarters set up the 11-9 Bryant final.

"It's a long time since Syracuse," said Pressler, referring to the Bulldogs' last win dating back to the 2014 NCAA tournament. "It's so relieving to get this first one. I didn't want it to be as dramatic as it was, but Hartford is a good team. We knew that going in. They didn't show any first-game rust."

Bryant outshot Hartford, 32-30, on the afternoon and won the ground ball battle, 31-25. The Bulldogs went 2-for-2 on extra-man opportunities while limiting their turnovers to just 11. Bryant didn't commit a single giveaway in the fourth quarter.

Junior goalie Gunnar Waldt (Freeland, Md.) made nine stops in the contest, including five in the second half, while Vanderford echoed that effort with nine saves of his own.

The Bulldogs won't have long to revel in the victory, however, as Bryant is back on the field Tuesday afternoon for a battle against #13/10 Albany in Smithfield (4:00 p.m.). Tuesday's contest can be seen live and free-of-charge on NECFrontRow.com.