Bulldogs to host Merrimack on Wednesday

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – The Bryant University women's lacrosse team kicks off its three-game home stretch on Wednesday, April 21 at 3 p.m. when they welcome Merrimack to Beirne Stadium. 

THE PARTICULARS
Opponent: Merrimack
Date and Time: Wednesday, April 21 – 3 p.m.
Location: Beirne Stadium (Smithfield, R.I.)
Live Stats: Presto Stats
Watch Live: NEC Front Row

THE SERIES

• The 2021 season is the first season that Merrimack and Bryant met in its Division I era. The Bulldogs took the first meeting earlier this season on March 31, 18-10.
• During both team's Division II days, Merrimack held the series record, 6-4, making the all-time series mark, 6-5, in Merrimack's favor.

SCOUTING THE WARRIORS

• Merrimack posts a 2-8 overall record with a 2-6 mark in NEC play. The Warriors opened the NEC schedule with a win over Saint Francis, 14-10, but followed the dub with a seven-game losing streak. However, the Warriors ended the losing streak and will enter Wednesday's game after a 19-10 triumph at Central Connecticut last Saturday.
• Senior Meghan Dzialo leads the Warriors with 38 goals on the year and she netted five against the Bulldogs earlier this year. In seven of Merrimack's 10 games this season, Dzialo posted at least three goals. The senior also leads the team with 17 ground balls and 31 draw controls.
• Senior Kelsey Daly is one of Merrimack's top defenders as she leads with 13 caused turnovers across 10 games. Daly caused a season-high of three in back-to-back games, first against Bryant and later against LIU.
• Merrimack shows three goalkeepers in their lineup who all posted minutes this season. Senior Gabby Cacciola started in seven games this season and played a full 60 minutes in five, including the last two games for the Warriors. Cacciola has a goals against average of 15.26 and a save percentage of .404.
• Cacciola did not play against the Bulldogs earlier this year, as it was freshman Sam Preston who played a full 60 minutes in between the pipes. Presto stopped a career-best of 12 against Bryant but allowed 18 goals.

BULLDOGS NOTES AND NOTABLES

• Bryant is in crunch-time as far as NEC postseason is concerned. The Bulldogs currently tie for fourth with Saint Francis as both teams show a 4-5 conference record. Mount St. Mary's is the only NEC team to clinch a playoff berth so far as the top four teams will move on to the NEC playoffs.
• Sophomore Skylar Simmonds earned an NEC Prime Performer nod after tallying her third-straight multi-goal performance with five goals at Sacred Heart. Simmonds is now tied for second with Devon Bolen as the team's leading scorer.
• Senior Caitlin Bolen leads Bryant with 22 goals this season and ranks third in the conference averaging 2.75 goals per game. Most recently, Bolen notched two goals off six shots at Sacred Heart.
• Freshman Chamberlaine Bell had a breakout game at Sacred Heart last Saturday as she netted a career-high three goals and one assist.
• The Bulldogs lead the conference in draw controls per game (14.00) thanks in part to Megan McCarthy who leads the team with 27. McCarthy led at Sacred Heart with six and is seventh in the NEC with 3.38 draw controls per game.
• Bryant also puts the most shots on goals in the NEC as the Black and Gold ranks 11^th nationally in that category. Alexa Weber and Caitlin Bolen lead the Bulldogs as Bolen ranks fifth with 4.38 shots on goal per game followed by Weber with 3.62 which ranks her 11^th.
• Gabriella Henry worked her way into the top three in the NEC in ground balls per game with 2.71. Henry picked up three at Sacred Heart and posts 19 on the year. Henry also leads the defense with 10 caused turnovers so far this season.