Bryant hosts Providence at Beirne Stadium Saturday at noon
SMITHFIELD, R.I. - The Bryant University men's lacrosse team plays its first game on the turf of Beirne Stadium Saturday when in-state foe Providence visits Smithfield for the first of two Ocean State Cup games.
The Particulars
Opponent: Providence
Location: Beirne Stadium – Smithfield, R.I.
Date and Time: Saturday, Feb. 16 – 12 p.m.
Watch: NEC Front Row
Live Stats: Presto Sports
Game Notes: Bryant
Social Media: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | #GoBryant | #NECMLax
SCOUTING THE FRIARS
Providence enters Saturday at 1-1 on the year with a one-goal loss to Boston University and a win at Holy Cross.
Brendan Kearns and Nick Hatzipetrakos have scored four goals each for the Friars this year, while Matt Grillo has added three goals and a team-high three assists. Tate Boyce has recorded a 6.50 goals against average with a .606 save percentage.
THE SERIES
Bryant leads the all-time series 6-3 with Providence having won the last two meetings. The Bulldogs are 2-2 in four meetings in Smithfield.
The Friars recorded a 13-8 victory in last season's matchup in Providence. Trevor Weingarten (Allendale, N.J.) scored two goals for the Black & Gold in the defeat.
LAST TIME OUT: BUCKNELL 9, BRYANT 6
Sophomore Marc O'Rourke (Hingham, Mass.) scored three goals and freshman Mason Balch (Westfield, Mass.) added two, but a big third quarter from Bucknell gave the Bison the upper hand Sunday in Pennsylvania.
LUKE, NOT LUCK
Freshman goalie Luke Caracciolo (Centreville, Va.) had a debut to remember for the Black & Gold Sunday against Bucknell. Caracciolo recorded 16 saves and eight ground balls against the Bison - the third-most saves by a Bryant freshman in the Division I era.
Caracciolo was named NEC Co-Rookie of the Week for his efforts.
NEXT MAN-UP
Freshman Mason Balch's first career tally Sunday was of the man-up variety, making Balch the third Bryant freshman in the last five years to score a goal on the man-up in the last five seasons. Marc O'Rourke tallied a man-up goal in his debut in 2018, while Cam Ziegler achieved the feat in 2015.
MAKING HIS MARC
Sophomore Marc O'Rourke scored three goals Sunday at Bucknell, good for his third game of three or more goals in his first 16 collegiate contests.
BULLDOGS AMONG NEW ENGLAND'S BEST
Bryant has won 105 games since joining Division I in 2009 - the second-highest total of the 15 Division I lacrosse programs in the six New England states behind Yale's 108. The Bulldogs' .600 winning percentage over those 10 seasons ranks third in New England after Yale (.697) and Brown (.604).
NEXT UP: DARTMOUTH
Bryant welcomes Dartmouth to Beirne Stadium next Saturday for a special 11 a.m. start.
Season tickets for the 2019 campaign at Beirne Stadium are available by clicking HERE.
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