Bryant falls in OT, 14-13, to #10 Colgate

BULLDOGS DROP HEARTBREAKER, 14-13, TO NO. 10/11 COLGATE IN OVERTIME IN 2013 SEASON OPENER

SMITHFIELD, R.I. — Brian Schlansker (Glenville, N.Y.)'s second goal of the game with just eight seconds left in regulation tied the score at 13-13 and forced overtime Sunday afternoon, but the Bryant University men's lacrosse team couldn't find the net first in the extra frame, falling to No. 10/11 Colgate, 14-13, at home in the 2013 season opener.

Schlansker's lefty shot off a clean pass from junior Colin Dunster (Cos Cob, Conn.) rocketed past Colgate (1-0) goalie Gordon Santry as the final seconds ticked down to score a game-tying tally that came just minutes after Bryant (0-1) junior Alex Zomerfeld (Port Jefferson, N.Y.) completed his first-career hat trick off a pass from Schlansker behind the net to trim a two-goal Raider edge to just a 13-12 deficit with three minutes left to play.

It was the second time in the fourth quarter the Bulldogs (0-1) had come back from a two-goal gap to tie Sunday's opener, which featured four lead changes and six ties. But after senior attack Peter McMahon (Wilton, Conn.) was stopped point blank 46 seconds into overtime, Colgate would capitalize on its own opportunity to end the game, as Jimmy Ryan (4 goals) took a feed from Matt Baker (2 assists) and sent it sailing into side netting past goalie Gunnar Waldt (Freeland, Md.) 15 seconds after the sophomore picked up his 13th save of the game on the initial shot by arguably college lacrosse's top player in senior attack Peter Baum.

"We're a resilient bunch," said head coach Mike Pressler. "I told the guys all week this was going to be a one-goal game down the stretch, and a play or two was going to decide this in the end. I was true to my word."

Bryant managed to limit Baum, the 2012 NCAA leading goal scorer, to just a pair of scores and two assists in 15 shots Sunday, but the midfield duo of Ryan and Matt Clarkson made up for it and then some, combining for nine of Colgate's 14 goals and 10 total points. Clarkson's five tallies paced the contest.

"I thought we did a great job on No. 15 [Baum] and No. 43 [Ryan Walsh]." said Pressler. "They were the knowns. What really hurt us was the play Ryan and Clarkson. We really made some mistakes in playing them, but give them credit — they certainly played very well."

The Bulldogs saw a breakout game out of Zomerfeld, who scored three — including the team's first two goals of the game —and added a pair of first-half assists for a career-best and team-high five points on the day. Bryant also got multigoal games from Schlansker and longstick midfielder Mason Poli (Downingtown, Pa.) (2 goals each) and saw a pair of rookies score their first collegiate tallies.

"Alex was our best player in the preseason, and he performed today like he had all preseason, so we were not surprised by that," said Pressler.

Freshman Collins Gantz (Denver, Colo.), who was the only rookie to crack the starting lineup, notched an unassisted goal with 3:36 left to play before the halftime break to give the Bulldogs a 7-5 lead, while longpole Cody O'Donnell (Smithfield, R.I.) put the home side up, 3-1, just eight minutes into his collegiate debut. The game also saw sophomore Shane Morrell (Glen Mills, Pa.) notch his first goal and first assist as a Bulldog.

"We couldn't be more pleased with the play of certainly Collins Gantz, Tyler Kemeny and Cody O'Donnell in their first game, as well as with our two goalies, Gunnar Waldt and Tom Carey," said Pressler. "They are some outstanding recruits and they were all guys who really contributed today."

It was the home team that led after both the first and second quarters, riding a four-goal opening 15 to a 4-3 advantage before taking an 8-7 edge into the halftime break after Baum got on the board for the first time with 39 seconds remaining in the stanza.

It was the first of four-straight Colgate goals, however, as the Raiders came out of the intermission on a tear, taking the clock down to 1:23 and the score up to 10-8 in the visitors' favor with consecutive unassisted scores by Ryan, Baum and Clarkson.

"I was very disappointed with our response after halftime," said Pressler. "We gave Colgate the opportunity to get right back in the game, so that was very disappointing from our point of view."

Bryant junior Dan Sipperly (Greenwich, N.Y.) would close the margin to one, 10-9, before the third quarter expired, but the Bulldogs would never find their way back on top, playing catch up throughout the fourth despite forcing overtime.

On the day, Colgate outshot Bryant, 59-37, but held just a 28-24 advantage in shots on goal. Sophomore faceoff specialist Kevin Massa (Huntington, N.Y.) went 20-of-31 from the X, picking up a game-best 12 ground balls, just one shy of his career high. He also chipped in an assist on the effort.

Bryant edged out its visitors in the ground ball game, 33-31, with senior defenseman Glenn Maiorano (Easton, Conn.) adding nine to the team's effort. The Bulldogs struggled with turnovers throughout the game, however, giving the ball away 21 times while going 17-of-22 on the clear and just 1-for-5 on man-up opportunities.

"We had our chance in overtime," said Pressler. "We went to an inverted set with Gantz, got a great look in front of the goal, and we just didn't make the play. At the end of the day, in overtime, you want to make sure that at least you have your chance. We had our chance and couldn't get it done. They had their chance and did."

The Bulldogs will return to action Saturday afternoon against their second of three-straight ranked opponents, welcoming No. 16/16 Fairfield to the Bryant Turf Complex for a 1 p.m. faceoff.