Bryant meets with Wagner on Saturday

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – After one game cancellation and two postponements, the Bryant University women's lacrosse team takes the field for the first time in 2021 at Wagner on Saturday afternoon.

THE PARTICULARS
Opponent: Wagner
Date and Time: Saturday, March 13 – 1 p.m.
Location: Hameline Field (Staten Island, N.Y.)
Watch Live: NEC Front Row
Live Stats: Sidearm Stats

THE SERIES

Bryant holds the all-time series record 10-5, and 5-1 in Staten Island. Despite holding the series record, the Bulldogs fell to Wagner in the last two meetings from 2018 and 2019. In 2019, the Bulldogs fell, 15-8, in Smithfield. Caitlin Bolen led the Bulldog offense with three goals but it was Maggie Pressler '20 who led with four assists. In 2018, the Bulldogs topped Wagner in the regular season, 11-10, but fell in the NEC Championship, 12-11, in double overtime.

SCOUTING THE SEAHAWKS

Wagner is three games into its 2020 slate and posts a 2-1 record and a perfect 2-0 mark in NEC play. First, the Seahawks opened the season with a 19-18 loss at Villanova. However, Wagner bounced back and held both Central Connecticut and Long Island to just three goals each in 15-3 and 14-3 triumphs to open the conference schedule.

As a team, Wagner posted top national rankings in multiple categories. The Seahawks are second in the country in shots on goal per game (28.67) and third in shots per game (38.67). Wagner also ranks seventh nationally in caused turnovers per game (11.67). In addition, they lead the NEC in assists per game (6.67), free position percentage (.500), ground balls per game (20.00), points per game (22.33), scoring defense (8.33), scoring margin (7.33), scoring offense (15.67), turnovers per game (11.33), and yellow cards (8).

Senior Erin Kerstetter leads Wagner's offense with 13 goals across three outings. She ranks 11^th nationally with 4.33 goals per game. On the defensive end, junior Aileen Hannan is fourth in the country with 3.00 caused turnovers per game. She also leads the team with 3.33 ground balls per game.  

BULLDOGS NOTES AND NOTABLES

• The Bulldogs are led by captains Gabriella Henry, Emily Diaz, and Megan McCarthy.
• Bryant returns over 75% of its scoring from a year ago including junior Alexa Weber who netted 20 in just six games in 2020. Weber also broke Bryant's all-time single-game scoring record at UMass Lowell last year with nine.
• Junior Cassidy Burns returns as Bryant's leader in assists last season. Burns dished out seven last season and added five goals.
• Senior Jamie Fischer is back as one of Bryant's top defenders after causing 11 turnovers in 2020. She also led the returning Bulldogs in ground balls with 12 last season.
• Both Devon Bolen and McCarthy will help in Bryant's dominance in the draw circle. McCarthy led the team last year with 30 draw controls followed by Bolen with 27. The Bulldogs won 77 total draws a year ago compared to 60 that Bryant's opponents picked up.
• Senior Gigi Kapoosuzian will return as Bryant's primary goalkeeper. She played all 360 minutes between the pipes last season and accumulated 48 saves (.457 save percentage) and a 9.50 goals against average.