Bulldogs slowed down by Colonials in 10-7 loss, Sunday in Smithfield

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – The Bryant University women's lacrosse team scored the first two goals in the opening 1:47 of the game, but only managed five goals over the final 58:13 in Sunday's 10-7 home loss to Northeast Conference foe Robert Morris.

The Bulldogs (9-4, 3-1 NEC) got the balance they've become accustomed to over the course of their seven-game win streak, as seven different players tallied points. Junior Shannon Sullivan (Farmingdale, N.Y.) netted two goals, and senior attack Nicole Britton (Monmouth Beach, N.J.) registered a score and an assist. But no other Bryant player amassed more than a single point.

The Colonials (7-6, 3-1) put an end to the Black and Gold stretch of seven-straight victories behind four points from both Jessica Karwacki (3g, 1a) and Corey Karwacki (1g, 3a). Emily Jamison and Dana Davis each caged two scores, as Katie Breeze and Niki Grillon netted late goals in the win.

Neither side was forced to make a significant amount of saves, as sophomore netminder Samantha Santeramo (Wantagh, N.Y.) made the only three stops for the Bulldogs in the first half, while freshman keeper Sarah Arnold turned away just two attempts on the Colonials net.

The Bulldogs could not have asked or a more ideal start when freshman mid Lauren Britton (Monmouth Beach, N.J.) won the opening draw and darted through five Robert Morris defenders for an easy goal just 11 seconds into the action. Sophomore attack Catlin Brown (San Diego, Calif.) converted a free-position attempt to give the hosts a 2-0 edge with 28:13 to go in the half, and it appeared as if it would be a fast-paced game.

The Colonials won the ensuing draw for their first possession of the game, and it became clear that the strategy was to slow things down and look for quality shots. They saw a good look just one minute later, as Davis fired in an unassisted shot in the lower right side of the cage. Jamison knotted things up two minutes later after a pass from Corey Karwacki into the middle.

Following a hard foul and a yellow card, sophomore mid Meaghan Brennan (Glen Head, N.Y.) was awarded a free-position try and she buried the shot to give Bryant a 3-2 lead, just over six minutes into opening frame. But Jessica Karwacki netted her first of the afternoon four minutes later, and from there goals were few and far between for both sides, as the two squads traded goals over the final 19:54 to make it 4-4 at the half.

Davis caged her second of the day 25 ticks into the second stanza, but Nicole Britton did a great job of sticking with a play following a save from the Colonials. The senior attack intercepted a pass from Arnold on the clear attempt, and immediately fired in the equalizer, making it 5-5 with 26:59 remaining.

Jessica Karwacki completed her hat trick over the next two minutes with a pair of unassisted rips into the cage, giving the Colonials a 7-5 advantage with 24:15 to go.

The defense for Robert Morris made things extremely difficult for Bryant from that point on, as the hosts were only able to fire off eight shots in the second half. The Colonial offense also acted as a defense mechanism, as they held the ball for several minutes at a time on each possession before meticulously adding to the lead.

Grillon scored the first goal of the contest in over 10 minutes at the 13:44 mark, and Breeze netted her first just 1:14 later to make it 9-5. Jamison capped of the 5-0 run for the Colonials, but there was still 9:55 to play.

The Bulldogs had plenty of time to dig into the deficit, but could not get the quality looks they were hoping for, as every effort on target was either contested or sent wide. The Colonials also controled the draws in the second frame, outworking Bryant, 7-3. Freshman Jess DeMeo (Mount Sinai, N.Y.) and Sullivan brought the Black and Gold to within three, 10-7, with scores in the final 1:40, but it was too little too late.

The loss ends Bryant's seven-game win streak and unblemished start to conference play. It also creates a three-way tie for first place in the NEC, as Wagner defeated LIU Brooklyn on Sunday to improve their league record to 3-1 as well.

The Bulldogs will now try to get back on the winning track on the road, a place where they are 7-0 this season, as they face Central Connecticut State University on Friday, April 22 at 5:00 p.m.