Lehrer, Mount tops Bulldogs in NEC Semi

Bulldogs fall in inaugural NEC Tournament, 14-9, Friday night at top-seeded Mout St. Mary's

EMMITSBURG, Md. – With just six days in between meetings, Bryant and Mount St. Mary's faced off for the second time this season in Friday's Northeast Conference Tournament semifinal, and the top-seeded Mountaineers were finally able to exact their revenge, topping the #4 Bulldogs, 14-9, at Waldron Family Stadium.

Defensive Player of the Year T.C. DiBartolo went a long way in getting the Mount (8-6) into Sunday's tournament championship, making a number of big stops for the hosts, as the Mountaineer offense – paced by a four-goal game from junior Cody Lehrer – plowed through the Bulldog defense in the second half to earn its first win over Bryant (8-9) in three all-time meetings.

But it was the visitors who held the edge after the first 30 minutes, taking a 5-4 lead into halftime after opening the game with two quick goals in the opening three minutes. The lead would be short lived in the third, though, as the Mount tied the game 1:47 in on a shot from Bryant Schmidt from 10 feet straight out in front.

Eric Ososki beat second-team all-conference goalie Jameson Love (Darien, Conn.) over the netminder's left shoulder to earn the hosts their first lead of the game, 6-5, minutes later, but sophomore defenseman and first team honoree Mason Poli (Downingtown, Pa.) would knot the score again 13 seconds later off the ensuing faceoff and a crisp feed from Peter McMahon (Wilton, Conn.). It was the longstick's second score of the night and eighth of the season, and was McMahon's team-best fourth point of the contest.

But that was the end of even play in the second semifinal, as Lehrer's third goal of the night with 6:44 to play in the third jumpstarted a seven-score Mount run spanning the final two periods and put the home side out in front, 13-6, with just over seven minutes left to play in the contest.

It was a lead the Bulldogs just wouldn't be able to make up, despite late goals from junior Max Weisenberg (Long Beach, N.Y.), senior Evan Roberts (West Cornwall, Vt.) and senior Chase Hayes (Greensboro, N.C.), as Bryant said goodbye to a historic 2011 season.

The Bulldogs edged the host Mountaineers in shots (36-35), ground balls (31-21) and faceoffs (Bryant won 19-of-26), but DiBartolo put up 11 stops to Love's seven on the night. Senior faceoff specialist Trever Sipperly (Greenwich, N.Y.) wrapped up his Bryant career with a stellar day from the X, winning 17-of-24 faceoffs while also pacing the game with six ground balls. Nine different Bulldogs chipped in a point on the contest with six different goal scorers.

With the win, Mount St. Mary's advances to Sunday's NEC Championship Game, where it will take on second-seeded Quinnipiac at 1 p.m. for the inaugural Northeast Conference tournament title.