Bryant looks to stay perfect in NEC at Wagner

BULLDOGS TAKE ON WAGNER ON ROAD SATURDAY AT 1 P.M.

SMITHFIELD, R.I. — The Bryant University men's lacrosse team takes its three-game win streak on the road and back into Northeast Conference play Saturday afternoon, taking on Wagner College at 1 p.m.

The Bulldogs (4-8, 2-0 NEC) have been hot as of late, winning four of their last five games while averaging better than 12 goals per contest in the stretch. The Seahawks (1-9, 0-2) enter the game in search of their first league victory of 2013 and look to get back into the postseason hunt.

"It's all about the conference right now," said head coach Mike Pressler. "Fortunately, we've put ourselves in position to be at the top of the league right now, and therefore, the Wagner game is very important — not only for Bryant University, but for Wagner to have the opportunity to get back in the conference race."

The Black and Gold will look to stay perfect in the NEC and ride the momentum of the last three games, a run that has seen junior midfielder Colin Dunster (Cos Cob, Conn.) take off offensively to average three goals and four points per game. Over the last five outings, three Bulldogs — rookie attack Shane Morrell (Glen Mills, Pa.), and junior linemates Dunster and Alex Zomerfeld (Port Jefferson, N.Y.) — have each netted 10 goals while a quartet of Bulldogs, including junior attack Dan Sipperly (Greenwich, N.Y.), have posted double-figure points.

Sophomore faceoff specialist Kevin Massa (Huntington, N.Y.) has been outstanding at the X, winning 75.6 percent of his faceoffs (93-of-123) since March 23 and boasts a nation's-best .704 faceoff winning percentage on the season. He also leads Division I in ground balls per game, averaging 12.17 each time out on the year and 13.8 over the last five.

Another strength for the Bulldogs throughout their current winning streak has been the play of redshirt-freshman Gunnar Waldt (Freeland, Md.) between the pipes. Waldt is 3-0 with an 8.00 goals against average and .613 save percentage over the stretch, and he will look to add to his 66 saves against the Seahawks.

Wagner will counter with an offense led by freshman attack Griffen Leclaire, who paces the Seahawks with 26 points off the strength of 19 goals and seven assists, all team bests. Colin O'Rourke drives the scoring behind him with 16 goals and 23 points, while Cory Santor and Nick DePhillips contribute 15 goals (21 points) and 14 goals (20 points), respectively.

Krey Keller will battle Massa at the X and is 103-for-249 (.414) on the season with a team-best 40 ground balls, while the Seahawks will put Nicholas Gibaldi (.470 save percentage, 15.48 GAA) in the cage to oppose the Bulldogs' offense.

Saturday's game kicks off at 1:00 p.m.