Bulldogs seek second straight unbeaten NEC season on Sunday
SMITHFIELD, R.I. – After a thrilling win on Friday afternoon that clinched home-field advantage in the 2018 NEC postseason, the Bulldogs are seeking their second consecutive perfect season in conference play on Sunday afternoon when they face the Mountaineers.
Junior Jess DeMeo (Mount Sinai, N.Y.) recorded a hat trick, while senior Catlin Brown (San Diego, Calif.) became the seventh player to record 100 career goals in Bryant's Division I history. Senior Samantha Santeramo (Wantagh, N.Y.) matched a season-high with 15 saves.
GAME INFORMATION
Opponent: Mount St. Mary's
Time: 1 p.m.
Location: Waldron Family Field – Emmitsburg, Md.
Watch Live: NEC Front Row
Live Stats: Presto Sports
Live Updates via Twitter: @BryantWLax
THE SERIES
After a convincing Mount win in the first-ever game between these two programs, Bryant has controlled the series, winning five of the previous six, including a 19-14 victory in Smithfield last season. The Bulldogs defeated the Mountaineers 17-7 the last time they met in Emmitsburg on April 8, 2016.
SCOUTING THE MOUNTAINEERS
The Mount punched their ticket to the 2018 NEC postseason with a win over Central Connecticut on Friday and now it's about seeding. A win and Robert Morris loss makes them the three-seed, while a loss automatically slots them as the four seed. The Mountaineers have won three consecutive entering Sunday.
They are led offensively by sophomore Carly Miller and junior Taylor Carhart. Miller enters the day as the team's points leader with 42, while Carhart has provided the most goals with 30. In the cage, Jillian Petito has played every minute, allowing a 8.67 goals-against average and saving .551 percent of the shots on her cage.
BRYANT vs. THE NORTHEAST CONFERENCE
A three-time tournament champion in the league, Bryant has gone 37-5 in the Northeast Conference under Jill Batcheller. The Bulldogs have won their last 14 regular season conference matchups dating back to the 2016 season and have not lost more than one NEC matchup since 2013.
AIMING FOR PERFECTION
The Bulldogs will be going for their second consecutive perfect season in NEC play when they go to Mount St. Mary's on Sunday afternoon. The only team to achieve this feat is UMBC, when they put together three straight perfect 5-0 seasons between 1998 and 2000. Mounmouth and Mount St. Mary's are the only other teams to put together multiple undefeated seasons in Northeast Conference play.
CALIFORNIA CENTURY MARK
Bryant's lone west-coast representative, senior Catlin Brown (San Diego, Calif.), recorded her 100th career goal on Friday afternoon when she tied the game with 1:17 left. She is the 7th player in the Bulldogs' Division I history to reach the milestone and the 13th player ever to wear the Black and Gold and score 100 goals.
GREAT BRITTON
Junior Lauren Britton (Monmouth Beach, N.J.) has been a critical part of the Bryant midfield this season, contributing everything from scoring to draw controls and caused turnovers. Her 22 goals and 10 assists are both career highs, totaling a career-high 32 points. She's also matched her combined total from her freshman and sophomore seasons in ground balls (36) and exceeded that combined total in draw controls (63). The Monmouth Beach, N.J. also clinched home-field for the Bulldogs in the Northeast Conference playoffs with a goal with 48 seconds left to lift Bryant to an 11-10 win over Wagner Friday night.
SO WE MEET AGAIN...
Bryant and Wagner will meet for the 10th time in the last six seasons on Friday afternoon after battling in each of the last four conference championship games. Six of the previous seven meetings have been held in Smithfield, R.I., with April 2016's matchup being played on Staten Island, a 7-4 Bryant victory. It is Bryant's most-played opponent since it started its program (13 games), with CCSU and Sacred Heart (12 times) placing second in that category.
SENIORS 2K18
The Senior Class of 2018 has been a key contributor to the Bulldog's success over the past four seasons. They have gone for a regular season record of 51-19, including a dominating 25-2 regular season record against NEC opponents. They hold two NEC Tournament titles and look to capture their third ring in four seasons.
TOP DAWGS
Selected as the Northeast Conference's preseason favorites, Bryant is proving why as the conference schedule hits its midway point. Entering the weekend, Bryant leads the league in 10 of the 16 major NCAA statistical categories. On the individual side, junior Jess DeMeo (Mount Sinai, N.Y.) and sophomore Caitlin Breglia (Long Beach, N.Y.) are ranked 1-2 in total goals and total points, as well as their per-game averages in those categories.
EXPERTS ON EFFICIENCY
Bryant's success on offense stems from taking advantage of the opportunities presented to them at a high rate, ranking in the Top 8 nationally in both shot percentage and free position percentage. Their .529 clip on eight-meter opportunities ranks fourth in the NCAA, while their .486 shot percentage sits seventh entering the weekend's games.
SAVES BY SANTERAMO
Senior Samantha Santeramo (Wantagh, N.Y.) brought her best in the biggest game of the season, stopping 15 shots in Bryant's win over Wagner Friday. She has now made 27 saves in two games on Staten Island and matched her season-high which she set in the Ocean State Cup vs. Brown on March 7.
THE BATCHELLER FILE
Sixth-year head coach Jill Batcheller enters Friday afternoon with a 76-31 career record, including a 37-5 record in Northeast Conference games. She has not had a losing season in her tenure, and her teams have won at least 13 games in each of the last four seasons.