Women's lax opens at home Friday afternoon, hosts Albany at 2p

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – After a 2-0 road start to the 2014 season, the Bryant University women's lacrosse team is ready to show off in front of the home crowd. Friday afternoon, the Bulldogs will finally get that chance, as the Black and Gold play host to the University at Albany in the team's home opener at 2:00 p.m.

The Bulldogs (2-0) enter the game having won their first two contests of the season, with a Kim Sniffen (Redding, Conn.) overtime tally taking Bryant past Holy Cross and five scores from sophomore Lauren Descalzo (Hauppauge, N.Y.) driving the team to a win over Siena last time out. Friday's contest marks the season opener for a Great Dane side that went to the America East Championship Game in 2013.

Albany returns a plethora of experience to its roster, with 10 starters and 14 letterwinners back in 2014. The Great Danes are in the hunt for their third league title in the last four years this season, picked to finish second in a competitive America East Conference. Head coach John Battaglino returns second team all-conference pick Ariana Parker and all-rookie selections Rachel Bowles and Christine Johnson to a roster that features six seniors and 25 talented underclassmen.

Bowles scored 36 goals in 2013 as a redshirt-freshman en route to America East Co-Rookie of the Year honors while Parker finished last season with 30 points (25g, 5a) and was arguably the team's top two-way player, forcing 20 caused turnovers as a junior. Johnson added seven points with 10 draw controls and six ground balls.

But the Great Danes top returning strength could just be on the draw, with Kathleen Lennon back to add to her 131 career draw controls. The senior picked up 103 in 2013 alone and added 28 ground balls with 26 caused turnovers.

Friday at the Bryant Turf Complex, the Bulldogs will be looking to avenge last season's meeting that saw the Great Danes take a 15-4 victory at John Fallon Field.

The Bulldogs enter their home opener averaging 9.5 goals per game while holding opponents to just seven in each of the opening two contests. Senior goalie Brianna Watt (Babylon, N.Y.) has been a major part of that statistic, turning away 14 for a 6.67 goals against average and .500 save percentage.

Offensively, Bryant has gotten production from seven different goal scorers, paced by six markers from Descalzo. Senior Haley Bloom (Hauppauge, N.Y.) leads the way with seven points off four goals and three helpers, while Sniffen has two assists and three total tallies, including her game winner in extra time in the opener against the Crusaders.

Another senior attack, Olivia McCarthy (Sea Girt, N.J.), has been strong on both sides of the ball for the Black and Gold, leading the team in ground balls (6) and caused turnovers (4) while also chipping in a pair of goals and two assists.

Friday's opening draw is slated for 2 p.m. The game, weather permitting, will be broadcast live and free of charge on NECFrontRow.com.