Bulldogs dominate Quinnipiac, 18-5, Thursday on road

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Behind four goal outings from sophomore Lauren Descalzo (Hauppauge, N.Y.) and senior Kimberley Sniffen (Redding, Conn.), the Bryant University women's lacrosse team roared out to an 8-0 lead and never looked back, triumphing on the road against Quinnipiac, 18-5, Thursday afternoon.

The win marked the third straight for the Bulldogs (6-2), who saw 10 different scorers in the outing. The Bobcats (0-6) struggled to contain the Black and Gold offense and were led by two tallies from Kathleen DeVito.

Three of Descalzo's markers came in the Bulldogs' opening eight-goal run that spanned the first 15 minutes of the contest. Seniors Sniffen, Lisa Vendel (Sandy Hook, Conn.), Katherine Keckeisen (Danbury, Conn.) and Haley Bloom (Hauppauge, N.Y.) also chipped in a tally in the stretch, as did sophomore Nicole Britton (Monmouth Beach, N.J.).

"Everyone did a good job of stepping up, being a threat and putting the ball in the net when they needed to, which really led to us having a balanced attack," said Bryant head coach Jill DePetris-Batcheller.

DeVito got the Bobcats on the board with 14:38 to play in the first half, and she would score her second of the day with 10 to go to make it 10-2 in favor of the Bulldogs after scores from Sniffen and Vendel.

The Bulldogs closed the half with another four-goal spurt – this one from the sticks of Sniffen, sophomore Morgan LaBarbera (New Fairfield, Conn.), junior Shannon Burns (Mount Sinai, N.Y.) and Descalzo – to take a 14-2 lead into the halftime break.

Sniffen started off the second with her final tally of the game, and Burns added her second before Quinnipiac's Kayla Fu made it 16-3 with 13:46 remaining. Rookie Emily Columbus (East Northport, N.Y.) and junior Skylar Zlotnick (Essex Fells, N.J.) finished off the scoring for the Black and Gold, while Bobcats Michaela Tinsley and Kelly Babstock also found the back of the net in the final 10 minutes.

On the day, Bryant outshot the Bobcats, 32-14, and won the draw control battle, 17-8. Vendel and Britton led the way for the visitors with three apiece. Senior goalie Brianna Watt (Babylon, N.Y.) made five stops in the victory while Quinnipiac goalies Samantha Tilts (6) and Rachel Massicotte (1) combined for a seven-save effort.

"We broke down our season into two halves, and it's great to be 6-2 at the end of our first half," said DePetris-Batcheller. "Now, as we get ready for the Ocean State Cup and our Northeast Conference games, this gives us the confidence to know that we can win tight games and that we can maintain a lead if we get out in front."

The Bulldogs bring their three-game win streak back to Smithfield for their next outing, as their month-long, five-game road trip finally comes to an end. Bryant will host intrastate rival Brown at the Bryant Turf Complex Tuesday, April 1 at 4:00 p.m.