Bulldogs host RMU Saturday in home finale

SMITHFIELD, R.I. -- The Bryant University men's lacrosse team will host Northeast Conference foe Robert Morris Saturday afternoon in the team's 2011 home finale and Senior Day at the Bryant Turf Complex.

Bryant (7-7) will look to move to 3-1 in conference when the Bulldogs face off against the Colonials (7-5, 1-2), a team they battled to a 15-14 overtime road win a year ago. Currently in a tie for second place in the NEC standings, the Bulldogs need wins in their final two contests to take over at least a share of the top spot.

The Black and Gold are coming off a tough outing against nationally ranked Yale Tuesday night, when Bryant fell, 9-8, despite a late-game comeback. Sophomore Peter McMahon (Wilton, Conn.) led the home side with four points (2g, 2a) in the outing while junior Jameson Love (Darien, Conn.) made 15 stops between the pipes.

The Bulldogs will need all their offensive and defensive guns shooting Saturday, as the Colonials average 12.75 goals per game while allowing just over 10 to opponents. Trevor Moore's 51 points off 41 goals and 10 helpers pace Robert Morris and represent the daunting task of containing the reigning NEC Player of the Year. Patrick Smith adds another scoring threat with 22 goals on the season, while four more Colonials have recorded 10 or more tallies per game. In net, Charles Ruppert boasts a .524 save pecentage and allows a hair under 10 scores per outing. Bryant senior Trever Sipperly (Greenwich, N.Y.) will have his hands full with Mike Grosz as well, who wins 53.8 percent of his faceoffs on the season and has picked up a team-high 53 ground balls with one assist.

Saturday also marks 2011 Senior Day for the Black and Gold and marks the final home contest for 13 Bulldog seniors in Gary Crowley (Scituate, Mass.), Greg Lehane (Southlake, Texas), two-time captain Anthony Iannello (Lake Ronkonkoma, N.Y.), Evan Roberts (West Cornwall, Vt.), captain Joe Rauchut (Philadelphia, Pa.), Ryan Mahoney (Wading River, N.Y.), Harrison Tull (Annapolis, Md.), Rob Stufano (Garden City, N.Y.), Chase Hayes (Greensboro, N.C.), Alec Rosenbruch (Nashua, N.H.), John Truscello (Holbrook, N.Y.), Trever Sipperly (Greenwich, N.Y.) and Ryan Morrell (Glen Mills, Pa.).

Gametime is 1 p.m. with Senior Day ceremonies prior to the opening faceoff. Fans can follow along with livestats or watch live at www.bryantbulldogs.tv.