TOP ATTACK UNIT EXPLODES FOR 11 GOALS, LEADS BULLDOGS PAST BELLARMINE, 14-4, SATURDAY AFTERNOON AT HOME
April 18, 2009
TOP ATTACK UNIT EXPLODES FOR 11 GOALS, LEADS BULLDOGS PAST BELLARMINE, 14-4, SATURDAY AFTERNOON AT HOME
SMITHFIELD, R.I. - Led by four goals apiece from captains Zack Greer (Whitby, Ont.) and Kevin Hoagland (Glastonbury, Conn.), the Bryant University men's lacrosse team earned its ninth win of the season with a 14-4 victory over Bellarmine University at Bulldog Stadium Saturday afternoon.
Greer's seven points on the day paced the Bulldogs (9-5), while linemates Hoagland and fellow senior captain Bryan Kaufmann (Putnam Valley, N.Y.) (3 goals, 1 assist) chipped in four points apiece. Bryant would hold the Knights (6-7) to just one goal per frame while the Bulldogs stayed on the offensive for much of the contest.
"Looking back on our previous 13 games, I thought today was without question one of our best," said Bryant head coach Mike Pressler. "It was just a complete effort from everybody. We played well in every phase of the game and that was our goal from the beginning. It was good to get out there, get ahead early and get a win against a good team, especially a good offensive team."
It didn't take long for the Bulldog offense to get to scoring, as Greer turned a strong early Bryant possession into a 1-0 lead just 39 seconds into the game with an unassisted tally after curling around the right side of the cage for a low shot.
Bellarmine would even the score in the fourth minute off a Jarrett Davis goal, but that was as close as the Knights would get to the Bulldogs all afternoon.
Back-to-back goals from Kaufmann (unassisted) and Hoagland (assisted by Kaufmann) came within 37 seconds of each other for a two-goal Bulldog advantage less than five minutes into the contest, but from there the teams would play to a draw through the remainder of the first quarter.
Bellarmine's Jordan Wong notched his first goal of the season to start the scoring in the second frame, taking a spectacular pass from Alex Porter from out front and landing right on the doorstep of Bryant rookie netminder Jameson Love (Darien, Conn.) to cut the home lead to 3-2.
But it would take Max Weisenberg (Long Beach, N.Y.) and Greer 61 seconds to respond, as Weisenberg took Greer's pass from the right side just as he hit the top of the crease, bouncing the ball past Knights goalie Scott Bowles.
Greer and Rob Maiorano (Easton, Conn.) tallied goals just 12 seconds apart to give the Bulldogs a 6-2 lead before sophomore Gary Crowley (Scituate, Mass.) sent Bellarmine to the locker room down by five, 7-2, with his only goal of the game with just 10 ticks left on the clock.
"With a good team like this, you don't want to let them hang around into the second half," Pressler said. "I think with a 7-2 lead at halftime and by getting the first two goals of the third quarter, we really put the game away.
"But I've seen Bellarmine score in bunches and come back, and to hold this team to only four is just a great credit to Jameson Love and the entire defense."
After the break, Bellarmine came back with a new goalie, David Haas, but still couldn't keep the Bulldogs out of the net as Kaufmann came out with the first two goals of the third frame.
Davis scored a man-advantage goal with 5:52 to play in the third to make the score 9-3, but just 10 seconds later Hoagland notched his first of three-straight tallies to get back a seven-goal lead. The senior attacker scored his second of the trio with 3:39 to go in the frame after his ball dribbled past an unaware Bellarmine goaltender, and scored again to open the fourth quarter, again unassisted.
"Obviously when you're pulling goalies in and out, playing musical goaltenders if you will, that tells you they aren't happy with their play in goal," said Pressler of Bellarmine's numerous goalie changes. "They tried to keep us off-balance trading between a righty and a lefty, and I thought our guys adjusted to that very well."
With 12:12 to play in the contest and Bellarmine back to its starting goalie, Greer struck again, assisted by Robert Stufano (Garden City, N.Y.), to bring the score to 13-3. Austin Bright's goal with 8:30 to play would be nullified by Greer's - and the game's - final tally seven seconds later before the score went final, 14-4.
Faceoff specialist Andrew Hennessey (Wading River , N.Y.), fighting the flu and questionable for today's game, continued his stellar play, winning 17-of-23 faceoffs on the day with a trio of ground balls.
"Just think an unbelievable effort from Andrew Hennessey," said Pressler, citing the severity of his illness. "And he still goes 17-for-23 with three grounders and only one turnover. Just an unbelievable effort from No. 40 when we needed him the most."
Pressler also credits Hennessey with much of Bryant's success in keeping the Knights from creeping back into the game.
"I think part of that is the great job Andrew does on the faceoff," he said. "To get back in the game you have to get the momentum off faceoffs, and Andrew was not gonna have that today."
Love stood tall for the challenge as well, recording 15 saves before giving way to senior Brad Burkhardt (Branford, Conn.) to finish out the contest.
"He was on his game today," Pressler said. "Jameson was ready to go, he was seeing the ball well and he did a great job getting the ball over the top in the transition game. He without question got back on track today."
The Bulldogs outshot the Knights, 46-31 on the day, picking up 44 ground balls to Bellarmine's 29. Bryant played well in clearing situations, going 21-for-25, while forcing seven failed clears from the visiting Knights.
The Bulldogs now look toward the final game of their 2009 inaugural Division I season, to be played Wednesday at the Bryant Turf Complex. Bryant looks to get its 10th win of the year and finish the season on a three-game winning streak with a victory over Holy Cross, a night that will also serve as Senior Night for nine graduating seniors.
"This is going to be a very emotional Senior Day, for me in particular," said Pressler. "I've been very fond of the Class of '09. When we came to Bryant when they were sophomores, they bought into the change without question. The loyalty they've shown to me - they've just been the core of the program. I want to make sure, we all do, that these guys go out on a very positive note."
Bryant will host Holy Cross at home on Wednesday, April 22 at 7 p.m.