Bryant downed by Providence, 13-8

PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Seven different Bulldogs scored and graduate student Kenny Massa (Huntington, N.Y.) was dominant on the face-off yet again, but the Bryant University men's lacrosse team was defeated by Providence, 13-8, Saturday in the state capital.

Massa was 18-of-23 (.783) at the X Saturday to improve his season percentage to .727. Sophomore Trevor Weingarten (Allendale, N.J.) had his first-career multi-goal game in the defeat.

GAME INFORMATION
Providence 13, Bryant 8
Records: Bryant (1-2), Providence (2-1)
Location: Chapey Field at Anderson Stadium (Providence, R.I.)

COACH PRESSLER'S COMMENTS

"First and foremost, you've got to give the credit to PC. We jumped all over them. We were up 5-2 and they fought their way back. They were terrific from the second quarter on. They didn't turn it over, they shot it well and they played much more disciplined."

"We have some serious soul-searching to do and serious adjustments to make in what we're doing scheme-wise. It's a huge suck it up, reevaluate and get back after it week for the entire Bryant lacrosse team."

KEY MOMENT

• Bryant led 5-2 late in the first quarter, but Providence responded with the next five goals to close the half up 7-5.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Bryant opened the scoring on Weingarten's first goal of the day, quickly followed by a face-off win and goal from Massa, to go up 2-0 with just over six minutes to go in the first half.
• Freshman Marc O'Rourke (Hingham, Mass.) followed with a goal to make it 3-0 and after goals from freshman Austin Kent (Franklin, Mass.) and redshirt-sophomore Jake Buonaiuto (Miller Place, N.Y.), the Bulldogs led 5-2.
• The Friars responded with the final five goals of the half to lead 7-5 through 30 minutes.
• Providence recorded the first goal of the third quarter to make it 8-5 in favor of the home team, but seniors Tom Kennedy (Farmingdale, N.Y.) and Cam Ziegler (Carlsbad, Calif.) responded to get the Bulldogs back within one at 8-7 with 9:26 to go in the third quarter.
• The Friars answered with five straight goals to take their largest lead of the day at 13-7 midway through the fourth quarter before Weingarten added his second goal of the day for the final 13-8 margin.

STATS

• The Bulldogs featured seven different goal scorers, with Weingarten scoring twice.
• Massa was 18-of-23 on face-offs with 15 ground balls.
• Sophomore Jake Fiske (Poway, Calif.) tallied four ground balls, while Kennedy added three.
• Senior James Werner (New Rochelle, N.Y.) collected nine saves.

GAME NOTES

• Bryant drops to 6-3 against Providence.
• Weingarten is the ninth different Bulldog this season to score two or more goals in a game.
• Massa is averaging 14.33 ground balls per game through three games. His 13.50 entering the week led the nation.

UP NEXT
Bryant returns to action Saturday, Feb. 24, for a game at Hartford. The 2 p.m. game can be seen on ESPN3.