Field is set, Bryant headed to #7 Boston College in NCAA Tournament First Round
SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Fresh off its first-ever Northeast Conference Tournament Championship, the Bryant University women's lacrosse team will play #7 seed Boston College in Newton, Mass., Friday evening (5 p.m.) at the Newton Soccer Complex in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament.
The Bulldogs completed their magical run through NEC play and the conference tournament Sunday afternoon with a 14-6 victory over #2 seeded Wagner. Sophomore attack Lauren Descalzo (Hauppauge, N.Y.) led the Black and Gold with 10 goals and an assist on the weekend en route to being named Tournament MVP, while seniors Haley Bloom (Hauppauge, N.Y.), Lisa Vendel (Sandy Hook, Conn.), and Lindsay Langella (Northport, N.Y.) rounded out the Bryant All-Tournament team selections.
"No matter who we ended up being matched up against, this is just an awesome experience for these girls," said Bryant head coach Jill DePetris-Batcheller. "As a coach, I could not be more proud of this team and everything they have accomplished this season."
Looking ahead, the Bulldogs won't have to travel far for their first-ever NCAA Tournament contest when they head up the road to take on Boston College on Friday. The Eagles enter the tourney with a 13-5 overall record after being bounced from the ACC Tournament by defending National Champion North Carolina on April 24.
BC is led by First Team All-ACC midfielder Mikaela Rix who ranks second on the team with 69 points on 54 goals and 15 assists and first on the squad with 33 groundballs. Bryant will also have its hands full with junior attack and leading scorer Covie Stanwick and sophomore midfielder Sarah Mannelly, both All-ACC Second Team honorees.
"Having the opportunity to play so close to home is unbelievable," added DePetris-Batcheller. "With the support of a lot of our fans we will have the opportunity to really make waves in the first round."
"This team, and specifically these nine seniors, have been labled as underdogs their entire careers and they continue to prove people wrong, time and time again, and I don't see how Friday night will be any different."
The winner between Bryant and BC will go on to play the winner of UMass Amherst and Loyola (Md.) on Sunday at 1 p.m. in Newton.
For more information on Bryant's first round matchup and all your 2014 NCAA Women's Lacrosse Championship news, be sure to visit NCAA.com.