Bulldogs spring down to South Carolina to battle Winthrop, Saturday at 6 p.m.

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – The Bryant University women's lacrosse team travels to South Carolina for the start of a three-game road trip, beginning with first-time opponent Winthrop University Saturday at 6:00 p.m.

The Bulldogs (2-3) dropped a heartbreaker to intrastate rival Brown on Wednesday night, 11-10. After battling back from a 10-5 deficit midway through the second half, Bryant had a chance to tie the game on a free-position attempt in the final seconds, but the shot was saved. Senior attackers Lauren Descalzo (Hauppauge, N.Y.) and Nicole Britton (Monmouth Beach, N.J.) paced the Bulldogs with three goals and four goals, respectively, as the latter added two assists. Sophomore midfielder Meaghan Brennan (Glen Head, N.Y.) tallied a goal and two helpers in the loss.

Sophomore netminder Daja Andrews (Lumberton, N.J.) made her second start of the season and turned away seven shots in a full 60 minutes of action against Brown. Whether Andrews or fellow sophomore goalie Samantha Santeramo (Wantagh, N.Y.) is between the pipes on Saturday, they will have their hands full against a deep Eagles (7-0) offense.

The Big South inhabitants have been dominant thus far, averaging 13 goals per game to rank 18th in the country and limiting opponents to just 6 goals per contest, good for seventh in the nation. Sophomore attack Kristen Shriver leads six Winthrop performers with double-digit points this season, as she has tallied 20 on 10 goals and 10 assists. Senior mid Shannon Gallagher leads the Eagles with 17 goals to go along with two helpers and 16 draw controls, and she also paces Winthrop with 20 ground balls. Sophomore attack Katie Clark has registered 14 goals and five assists, while Abigail Blevins (9g, 9a), Alexis Linhardt (11g, 1a) and Logan McCarthy (8g, 2a) round out the double-figure point getters.

Descalzo and Britton will be asked to match Winthrop's capabilities on the offensive end. But the two, along with the rest of the Bulldogs' attack, will be challenged by a strong defensive unit for the Eagles. Winthrop is causing eight turnovers per game, ranking eighth in the country. Gallagher is forcing 2.7 turnovers per contest (seventh nationally).

Sophomore goalie Alaina Girani has been splendid in the crease for Winthrop, allowing just 5.87 goals per game (sixth in the country). She is saving 57.4 percent of the shots fired in her direction which ranks fourth at the Division I circuit.

The matchup with the Eagles on Saturday can be followed along via livestats at WinthropEagles.com.