Bryant moves to 3-0 in NEC with 18-7 win over CCSU

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Sophomore Giana Kapoosuzian (Merrick, N.Y.) made a career-high 18 saves and senior Jess DeMeo (Mount Sinai, N.Y.) scored five goals to lead the Bryant University women's lacrosse team to an 18-7 win over Central Connecticut Friday night at Beirne Stadium.

Junior Caitlin Breglia (Long Beach, N.Y.) added two goals and four assists to increase her NEC-leading assist total to 30. Senior Lauren Britton (Monmouth Beach, N.J.) collected 13 draw controls, one shy of her single-game program record set last week, in the process breaking the single-season program record held by senior Meredith James (Essex Fells, N.J.).

GAME INFORMATION
Bryant 18, Central Connecticut 7
Records: Bryant (7-5, 3-0 NEC), Central Connecticut (2-10, 0-3 NEC)
Location: Beirne Stadium (Smithfield, R.I.)

COACH ROCHE'S COMMENTS
"Our defensive unit is dedicated to improvement and is getting better every day. Gigi stepped up for us tonight and was dominant in cage with 18 saves. We are making strides on both strides of the ball and looking forward to getting ready for Thursday against Wagner."

KEY MOMENT

• Bryant scored five goals in the last 6:13 of the first half, including two in the final 53 seconds, to turn an 8-4 advantage into a 13-4 lead at the break.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Free-position goals from sophomore Devon Bolen (Queensbury, N.Y.) and Breglia, followed by a second goal from Devon Bolen, helped Bryant open a 3-0 lead over the first 3:55 of the contest.
• Langella and DeMeo scored on 8-meter opportunities and Britton and freshman Alexa Weber (South Windsor, Conn.) followed with goals to match Blue Devil tallies, putting Bryant ahead 7-2 with 15:47 to play in the half.
• The Blue Devils scored a pair of goals around DeMeo's second of the night to pull within 8-4 with 12:29 on the clock, but Bryant responded with five straight, getting goals from James, Langella, Weber, DeMeo and Devon Bolen to take a 13-4 lead into the locker room.
• DeMeo scored with 53 seconds left in the half and Devon Bolen added her third of the half with 26 ticks on the clock to take control of the contest.
• The Blue Devils scored the first goal of the second half before goals from Breglia and Langella ran the advantage to 10 at 15-5 with 16:52 to play.
• A CCSU goal was answered by three more from Bryant, as DeMeo scored twice and sophomore Caitlin Bolen (Queensbury, N.Y.) added a goal with 8:15 to play for an 18-6 lead.
• The Blue Devils scored the final goal of the contest with 3:38 to go for the 18-7 decision.

STATS

• DeMeo scored five goals to give her 42 for the year and 15 in three NEC games.
• Kapoosuzian turned aside a career-best 18 shots and matched her career-high with three ground balls. The sophomore goalie posted a .720 save percentage on the night.
• Breglia recorded her third consecutive game of exactly two goals and four assists.
• Britton posted 13 draw controls, two ground balls, one caused turnover and one goal.
• Devon Bolen scored a career-high three goals and added three draw controls.
• Langella (3) and Weber (2) added multi-goal efforts.
• Bryant assisted on eight of its 14 goals not scored via a free position opportunity, with Breglia contributing four, junior Maggie Pressler (Smithfield, R.I.) chipping in two, and one each from Weber and sophomore Emma Lindquist (Windham, N.H.).
• Senior Jasmine Perkins (West Babylon, N.Y.) contributed three ground balls and two caused turnovers.
• Bryant outshot CCSU, 36-28.
• The Bulldogs held a 20-7 advantage in the draw circle with 13 from Britton, four from James and three from Devon Bolen.

GAME NOTES

• Bryant improves to 11-2 all-time against Central Connecticut and has won eight straight meetings.
• The Bulldogs are 4-1 at Beirne Stadium this season.
• Bryant is 35-3 (.921) in regular-season NEC games since 2014.
• The Bulldogs have won 10 consecutive NEC regular-season home games.
• Britton became the first player in program history with 200 career draw controls. The senior from New Jersey has 212 in Black & Gold, 41 more than her sister Nicole, who ranks second.
• Breglia's four assists moved her past Elizabeth Blaisdell for fourth in program history with 68.
• Breglia's six points brought her to 178 for her career, three back of Lauren Carlisle for eighth in program history.
• The seven goals allowed Friday matched Sunday's season-best.

UP NEXT
Bryant hosts Wagner Thursday at 7 p.m. at Beirne Stadium in a rematch of the last five Northeast Conference Championships. Tickets are available HERE. 

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