Bulldogs open 2018 Saturday at home against Manhattan
SMITHFIELD, R.I. – The Bryant University men's lacrosse team begins its 10th Division I season Saturday when the Bulldogs host Manhattan at the Bryant Track & Turf Complex. Saturday marks the third-straight season opener Bryant has played against Manhattan.
THE PARTICULARS
Opponent: Manhattan
Game Time: Saturday, Feb. 3 – 1 p.m.
Tickets: BryantBulldogs.com
Watch Live: NEC Front Row (Jake Zimmer, Joe McManus)
Live Stats: BryantBulldogs.com
SCOUTING THE JASPERS
Manhattan opens the 2018 season picked seventh in the seven-team MAAC preseason poll after a 3-11 campaign in 2017. The Jaspers return a trio of MAAC all-rookie selections from a year ago in Brandon Grinnell, Trevor Pelletier and CJ Scharf. Leading scorer Parker Giarratana also returns for Manhattan.
The Jaspers' non-conference schedule, which opens with a pair of NEC opponents in Bryant and Wagner, also includes a home date with a Virginia squad ranked No. 15 in the preseason Maverik media poll.
SERIES HISTORY vs. MANHATTAN
The Bulldogs are 2-0 against the Jaspers in the Division I era, as Bryant opens the season against Manhattan for the third-straight year. Last year in Riverdale, the Black and Gold opened up a 9-3 lead and won 17-10 with four goals and two assists from Cam Ziegler (Carlsbad, Calif.).
OPENING NIGHT
Bryant is 3-6 in season openers in its Division I era with three of the losses coming to top-10 teams. The Bulldogs opened the 2009 season against No. 2 Virginia, 2010 against No. 4 North Carolina and 2013 against No. 10 Colgate. Bryant is starting the year against an opponent from New York State for the seventh consecutive season, as the Bulldogs' three meetings against the Jaspers were preceded by four against Colgate.
BULLDOGS PICKED FIRST IN NEC PRESEASON POLL
Bryant, winner of five of the last six Northeast Conference titles, was the unanimous preseason favorite in the Northeast Conference coaches poll. The Bulldogs return three all-conference selections from a year ago – senior Kyle Cornell (Darien, Conn.), Tom Kennedy (Farmingdale, N.Y.) and graduate student Kenny Massa (Huntington, N.Y.) - along with NEC all-rookie honoree Jake Buonaiuto (Miller Place, N.Y.). Bryant is receiving votes in the preseason Maverik media poll and was tabbed No. 25 in the Inside Lacrosse Face-Off Yearbook.
NEXT UP: BUCKNELL
Bryant hosts Bucknell Saturday, Feb. 10, at 1 p.m. as the Bulldogs play five of their first seven in Smithfield. The Bison, picked fourth in the Patriot League preseason poll, open their season Saturday at home against Marist.
Bryant University Athletics has announced the Spring Sports Pass for the upcoming spring season. The Spring Sports Pass allows admission to all home men's and women's lacrosse, baseball and softball events for just $50. The Spring Sports Pass can be purchased by clicking HERE.
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