Bryant closes regular season with 15-6 win over Wagner

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Logan McGovern recorded a season-high eight points as the Bryant University men's lacrosse team finished the regular season with a 15-6 victory over Wagner College on Saturday afternoon at Beirne Stadium.

With the win, the Bulldogs close the regular season with an 8-6 overall record and a 6-1 mark in Northeast Conference play. Bryant will serve as the No. 2 seed in next week's NEC Tournament that will be hosted at Saint Joseph's in Philadelphia.

One of 11 seniors honored prior to Saturday's game, McGovern posted three goals and five assists for a season-high eight points. With his five assists, McGovern set the Bryant DI single-season record with 35 on the year. He entered the day tied with Peter McMahon for the record. Bennett Abladian added five goals and Marc O'Rourke posted two goals and four assists.

Nathan Laliberte won 15-of-16 faceoffs and finished with nine ground balls. Dy-Jae Pearson picked up six grounders.  

Game Information
Bryant 15, Wagner 6
Records: Bryant 8-6, 6-1 NEC, Wagner 3-9, 1-6 NEC
Location: Beirne Stadium (Smithfield, R.I.)

Coach Pressler's Comments

Key Moment

• Bryant turned a 3-2 lead into a 6-2 lead with three goals in the final 3:33 of the first quarter.             

How it Happened

• McGovern, Sam Goforth and O'Rourke all scored within a minute of each other to make it 3-0 at the 10:37 mark of the first quarter.
• Wagner answered with two goals to make it 3-2.
• Abladian then sandwiched goals around a McGovern tally over the final 3:33 of the first quarter to make it 6-2 after one.
• McGovern recorded a point on all six of Bryant's first-quarter goals.
• O'Rourke, Abladian and Mason Drouin all scored in the second quarter to make it 9-3 at the half. Drouin's goal was a one-handed finish in front of the cage.
• LaJhon Jones opened Bryant's second half with a long pole goal. After Wagner scored, Abladian bookended scores by McGovern and Kevin Groeninger to make it 14-4 after three.
• Drew Lucas picked up a Wagner rebound and raced down the field to finish Bryant's final goal in the fourth quarter.  

Stats

• Bryant outshot Wagner, 52-35.
• The Bulldogs won 18-of-26 faceoffs.
• Bryant had a 41-25 lead in ground balls.
• McGovern posted three goals and five assists for eight points.
• O'Rourke posted six points on two goals and four assists.
• Abladian notched five goals.
• Bryant got single goals from Groeninger, Drouin, Lucas, Goforth and Jones.
• Luke Caracciolo posted 11 saves, while Brennan Hart made three stops in relief.       

Game Notes

• Bryant is now 13-0 all-time against Wagner.
• Bryant finished the season 5-2 at home.
• O'Rourke extended is goal streak to 26 games and his point streak to 50 games.
• O'Rourke now has 155 career goals and 220 career points.
• O'Rourke's 43 goals are the second-most in a single season in DI program history, while his 61 points are tied for third in a single season. He's just the fourth player in DI program history with 60+ points in a single season.
• O'Rourke's 220 career points are six shy of program record held by Tucker James (226).
• McGovern set a season high with eight points.
• McGovern's 35 assists this season are a DI single-season program record. He ranks fourth in program history.
• McGovern now has 76 career assists which ranks fourth in program history.
• Abladian recorded his ninth hat trick of the year and has 41 goals on the season.
• Caracciolo won his 22nd career game between the pipes.
• Pearson now has 11 ground balls in his last two NEC games.
• Laliberte posted his best faceoff winning percentage of the year, going 15-of-16.  

Up Next
Bryant, the No. 2 seed, will play in the second NEC Tournament Semifinal on Thursday at Sweeny Field in Philadelphia. Faceoff is set for 4:00 p.m.