Men's lacrosse moves up in national polls

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – On the heels of its third-straight Northeast Conference Championship, the Bryant University men's lacrosse team is ranked No. 16 in the Warrior/Inside Lacrosse Media Poll heading into its NCAA play-in game with Siena on Wednesday.

After a pair of weeks at No. 20, the Bulldogs (14-4) jumped up four spots in the Warrior/Inside Lacrosse poll and up one spot to No. 19 in the USILA Coaches Poll. Bryant also rejoined the Lacrosse Magazine Poll, coming in at No. 18. Loyola (Md.) is the ranked No. 1 in all three major polls.

In the national statistical rankings, Bryant owns the nation's best face-off winning percentage (.714) and the nation's best individual face-off man in junior Kevin Massa (Huntington, N.Y.). Massa leads the country with a .725 face-off winning percentage and is also the national leader in ground balls per game (11.17).

The Bulldogs also find themselves in the top 10 in man-down defense (3rd, .778), scoring defense (5th, 7.39), ground balls per game (6th, 35.39) and winning percentage (6th, .778). Sophomore Gunnar Waldt (Freeland, Md.) continues to anchor the defense and is ranked in the top 10 in save percentage (4th, .609), goals against average (5th, 7.4) and saves per game (8th, 11.47).

Bryant returns to the field on Wednesday, May 7 as it hosts Siena in an NCAA play-in game. Faceoff is scheduled for 4:00 p.m. at Bulldog Stadium.