Love, Roberts scoop up NEC honors
SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Two days after clinching the program's first-ever Division I playoff berth, the Bryant University men's lacrosse team scooped up a pair of Northeast Conference weekly honors Monday afternoon. Junior goalie Jameson Love (Dairen, Conn.) was named the NEC Defensive Player of the Week for the second time this season, while senior Evan Roberts (West Cornwall, VT) took home NEC Co-Player of the Week honors for the first time in 2011.
The Bulldogs pulled out a 9-8 double-overtime win against Mount St. Mary's on the road Saturday afternoon to solidify the fourth and final spot in this weekend's inaugural NEC Conference tournament in Emmitsburg, Md.
Love's stellar play between the pipes was crucial to the Bulldogs' 9-8 double-overtime win over previously undefeated Mountaineers. The junior captain made 11 saves including arguably the biggest of the season with 15 ticks left in the first overtime period, preserving the tie and allowing his team another chance at the win in the second overtime period.
The Connecticut native also made four saves in both the second and third frames, giving the Bulldogs the opportunity to outscore the Mount 7-2 and assume a two-goal lead entering the fourth period. Love added a pair of ground balls and played all 64:17 minutes of the contest, holding the NEC's top team to just eight goals, their lowest in conference play and fourth fewest of the season.
At middie, Roberts scored the game-winning goal 17 seconds into the second overtime Saturday afternoon, after winning the integral faceoff to open the frame. The Vermont native raced down the field and fired the game-ending shot for an unassisted tally 64:17 into the contest. It was his second tally of the day and 12th of the season.
The midfielder also earned Bryant its first tie of the match, knotting the score at 4-4 less than two minutes before the halftime break. Roberts added a pair of assists to finish with a game-best four points. The midfielder was productive from the faceoff X as well, winning 8-for-15 including both overtime faceoff opportunities. On top of his impressive statistics, he scooped up four ground balls without a single turnover.
The Bulldogs will face off against top-seeded host Mount St. Mary's on Friday, May 6. Faceoff is slated for 7 p.m., and fans can follow live stats at www.bryantbulldogs.com.