Men's Lacrosse Sets Sights On Division I

May 21, 2008 

Men's Lacrosse Sets Sights On Division I

They've made their mark in Division II, now they're sights are on something bigger.  The Bryant University men's lacrosse team, fresh off its record setting 14 win season and Northeast-10 Conference Championship, is ready to begin play in Division I starting this fall.  Instead of competing against the likes of Assumption, Franklin Pierce, Merrimack and Le Moyne, the Bulldogs will be competing against the best the lacrosse world has to offer in Virginia, Army, Princeton and Brown among many others in the coming season.

Since the program started nine years ago in 2000, the Bulldogs have never had a losing seasons in Division II.  Winning 100 games during that span (100-46), the Bulldogs captured the 2007 regular season conference championship and marked their final year of Division II with another NE-10 title under their belt.  This time with 14 wins and a No. 2 national ranking.

Head coach Mike Pressler, who will begin his third season at Bryant in 2009, will welcome back eight of the team's top scorers including the dynamic scoring combination of Kevin Hoagland (44 goals, 14 assists) and Bryan Kaufmann (35g, 22a). In addition, Gary Crowley is back after earning Freshman of the Year honors with 22 goals and 11 assists in his first season with the Bulldogs. 

Face-off specialist Andrew Hennessey showed why he was considered the best in the league once again as the sophomore All-American won a remarkable 246 of 345 face-off's this past season.  He'll be back with two more years of eligibility. 

Pressler will have to find a replacement for the graduated Corey MacDougall on defense and senior goalie Michael Kennedy.  Kennedy enjoyed a great season in '08, posting a 6.63 GAA and was named Most Outstanding Player of the Northeast-10 tournament. 

While all other Bryant programs will remain ineligible for postseason play due to the four-year Division I transition processes, Bryant will fast-track men's lacrosse meaning the program can compete for a post season berth after just two seasons, starting with the 2010-11 season.  At the same time, Bryant's new conference, the Northeast Conference, will begin the formation of a six-team league in 2010-11.  The Bulldogs will join fellow league members Mount St. Mary's, Quinnipiac, Robert Morris, Sacred Heart and Wagner.