Bryant hosts Mount St. Mary's in home opener

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – The Bryant University women's lacrosse team is set to host Mount St. Mary's on Saturday, March 27 at 1 p.m. for its home opener at Beirne Stadium.  

THE PARTICULARS
Opponent: Mount St. Mary's
Date and Time: Saturday, March 27 – 1 p.m.
Location: Beirne Stadium (Smithfield, R.I.)
Live Stats: Presto Stats
Watch Live: NEC Front Row

THE SERIES

• The series is tied at 6-6 and 3-3 in Smithfield.
• The last time the two teams met was in the NEC Semifinal in 2019 when the Mountaineers topped the Bulldogs, 18-4.

SCOUTING THE MOUNTAINEERS

• Mount St. Mary's dropped its first two games of the season to Towson (10-7) and #18 Navy (10-8) but bounced back and won its last five games. The Mountaineers are 5-2 overall and 4-0 against NEC foes with wins over Saint Francis (18-9), Merrimack (20-5), Sacred Heart (18-7), and Wagner (11-6).
• Both Jordan Butler and Alayna Pagnotta lead the Mountaineers with 17 goals each across seven games. Butler also leads the team with 13 assists as she ranks second in the NEC in total points (30) and points per game (4.29).
• As a team, Mount St. Mary's shows top rankings in multiple offensive categories. The team ranks 20^th nationally in assists per game (6.29), 17^th nationally in points per game (20.71), tenth nationally in scoring margin (6.43), and first in the NEC in shot percentage (.453). On the defensive end, the Mountaineers are third in the country in clearing percentage (.938).
• Mount's primary goalkeeper Jenna Oler posts a goals-against average of 8.41 and a save percentage of .509. Her goals-against average leads the NEC and ranks her sixth nationally.

BULLDOGS NOTES AND NOTABLES

• Bryant picked up its first win of the season at Central Connecticut, 18-3, as they grow to 1-1 in conference play.
• After a stat correction, senior Natalie Langella tied her career-best with five goals against the Blue Devils.
• Junior Emily Diaz posted two goals and three assists on Wednesday and she now leads the conference in shot percentage (.556) and is among the 50 in the country in that category.
• Sophomore Sam Ciancio is ranked fifth in the country in save percentage (.559) after stopping two at Central Connecticut in one half between the pipes. She is also second in the NEC and seventh in the country with a 7.50 goals-against average.
• Cassidy Burns led the Black and Gold with a career-high four assists at CCSU. The sophomore is second in the NEC averaging two assists per game.
• Graduate student Gabriella Henry has anchored Bryant's defense in the last two games and leads the team with seven groundballs so far this season. She picked up two at Central Connecticut on Wednesday and is now first in the NEC and ninth in the country with 3.50 groundballs per game.