Bryant looks to win series opener at Manhattan Saturday (5p)

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – The Bryant University women's lacrosse team begins the toughest stretch of its 2014 season, hitting the highways for the first game of a month-long roadtrip and taking on Manhattan College Saturday at 5:00 p.m.

The Bulldogs (2-1) enter the game looking to get back in the win column after a tough loss to Albany in the home opener last weekend while the Jaspers (0-2) are in search of their first victory of 2014.

Bryant will look to come out strong on the road behind the continuing offensive efforts of its senior class, as veterans have scored 20 of the team's 32 goals entering Saturday's matchup. Senior midfielder Lisa Vendel (Sandy Hook, Conn.) and senior attack Haley Bloom (Hauppauge, N.Y.) are each responsible for six of those scores, but it is a sophomore who leads the way for the Black and Gold. Lauren Descalzo (Hauppauge, N.Y.) has netted eight goals on the young 2014 season, with classmates Nicole Britton (Monmouth Beach, N.J.) and Morgan LaBarbera (New Fairfield, Conn.) combining for three goals and a quintet of points, as well.

Manhattan has gotten scoring from six different sources in 2014 despite losses at Rutgers, 6-3, and at home against Albany, 16-5. The Jaspers' offensive unit is led by three points from Stefanie Ranagan (2 goals) and two scores from Kaitlyn Cunningham, who also has four ground balls and two turnovers so far this season.

Christin Fiorinelli has been tending goalie duties for the Jaspers, turning away 22 in a pair of contests for a .500 save percentage and 11.00 goals against average with four ground balls of her own. Clare Kerrisk leads the team in the ground ball category with five, while Casey Silvestri's three caused turnovers mark a team best.

Between the pipes for the Bulldogs will be reigning Northeast Conference Defensive Player of the Week Brianna Watt (Babylon, N.Y.), who has also made 22 saves to start of 2014 action. Watt has faced 73 shots over the 2-1 start, boasting similar numbers to Fiorinelli with a 10.97 goals against average and .393 save percentage.

On the draw, the Bulldogs will look to Vendel and Britton, who pace the team with 10 and eight wins, respectively. As a team, Bryant has caused 30 opponent turnovers, paced by five each from senior Katherine Keckeisen (Danbury, Conn.) and classmate Kimberley Sniffen (Redding, Conn.).

Saturday's matchup represents the first meeting between the two sides.