Underclassmen lift Bulldogs over Vermont Saturday, 15-12

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Logan McGovern netted four points and Bennett Abladian recorded his first-career hat trick to lift the Bryant University men's lacrosse team to a 15-12 victory over Vermont on a rainy Saturday at Beirne Stadium.

A week after scoring the first three goals but losing to Stony Brook, the Bulldogs reversed roles this week. Bryant allowed Vermont to open up a 3-0 lead and trailed 5-2 with 1:30 left in the first quarter but outscored the Catamounts 7-1 the rest of the half.

McGovern recorded two goals and two assists and Abladian had three goals and an assist for the Black and Gold. Jake Buonaiuto recorded three points (2g, 1a) and Mason Drouin had two points (1g, 1a). Seven other Bulldogs picked up a goal.

Game Information
Bryant 15, Vermont 12
Records: Bryant (2-1), Vermont (0-1)
Location: Beirne Stadium (Smithfield, R.I.)

Key Moments

• Trailing 5-2 with 1:29 left in the first quarter, Nathan Laliberte won back-to-back faceoffs to set up Bryant goals. Aidan Goltz scored with 43 seconds left and Abladian scored as the quarter horn sounded to make it 5-4.

How it Happened

• Vermont opened the scoring on Saturday, building a 3-0 lead with a 6:45 left in the first quarter.
• Zach Coffey got the Bulldogs on the board 20 seconds later and Laliberte won the ensuing faceoff and raced down and scored to make it 3-2.
• After the Catamounts made it 5-2, Laliberte won two faceoffs that led to two goals. Goltz potted his first-career goal with 43 seconds left in the quarter and Abladian beat the first-quarter horn to make it 5-4.
• Timmy Hackett knotted things as he ripped one home on the run for his first-career goal.
• Buonaiuto followed with a snipe to the top right corner to make it 6-5.
• The Catamounts would tie it moments later but the Bulldogs scored the final three goals of the half.
• Abladian and McGovern traded goals and assists to start the run and Isaiah Davis picked up a ground ball and turned it into his first-career goal to make it 9-6.
• Jake Fiske got into the fun with a finish off a pass from McGovern, making it 11-8 with 8:23 to go in the third quarter.
• McGovern pushed the lead to 12-8 with his second of the day.
• Abladian then converted his first-career hat trick to make it 13-9.
• Sam Goforth and Drouin (Man-Up) scored fourth-quarter goals to make it 15-12 with 4:25 remaining.

Stats

• Bryant outshot Vermont, 42-36.
• The Bulldogs won the ground ball battle, 47-39.
• Bryant won 16-of-29 faceoffs.
• The Bulldogs finished 20-of-25 on clears and 2-for-5 on man-up opportunities.
• McGovern (2g, 2a) and Abladian (3g, 1a) each finished with four points.
• Buonaiuto (2g, 1a) recorded three points.
• Jon Miller registered two assists.
• Laliberte won 16-of-27 faceoffs and had 10 ground balls.
• Brody Rule collected five ground balls and had four caused turnovers.

Game Notes

• Bryant is now 3-2 all-time against Vermont. The Bulldogs are 3-0 at home against the Catamounts.
• Bryant's 15 goals are a season high.
• Abladian posted his first-career hat trick.
• Hackett, Goltz and Davis all scored their first collegiate goals.

Up Next

Bryant opens Northeast Conference play next Saturday when it welcomes Merrimack to Beirne Stadium. Faceoff is set for 12:00 p.m.