Bryant looks for return to NEC title, NCAA tournament in 2015, kicks off season at home against Colgate Saturday (1p)

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – With the expectations higher than ever, the Bryant University men's lacrosse team embarks on a quest for its fourth-straight Northeast Conference title and a return trip to the NCAA tournament in 2015, a season that kicks off Saturday afternoon at home.

Just a year after its impressive run to the NCAA Quarterfinals, the No. 19/14 Bulldogs have reloaded in 2015 and are ready for the challenge of repeating last year's success behind ninth-year head coach Mike Pressler.

The challenge starts Saturday against a Colgate team picked to finish fifth in the competitive Patriot League, and the Black and Gold will be looking for their first win in four tries against the Raiders. Colgate went 9-7 last season and returns Second Team All-Patriot League attack Ryan Walsh to lead the offense. The senior has scored at least 30 goals in each of his first three seasons in Hamilton, N.Y.

Defensively, reigning Patriot League Rookie of the Year Brandon Burke returns between the pipes after allowing just 8.81 goals per game through his freshman campaign, while senior preseason all-conference pick Matt Yeager returns to anchor the Raider backline.

"For the last three years, this has been a great opener for both sides," said Pressler. "Traditionally, the elements have had something to do with the game, and we anticipate another one- or two-goal battle with the Raiders that won't be decided until the final minutes.

"Coach Mike Murphy has done a great job in his short tenure elevating Colgate lacrosse to an elite level, and I think both teams are really excited to see a different color jersey."

The Bulldogs, who finished the 2014 season 16-5 overall, posted the fifth-highest winning percentage in Division I last year and boasted a trio of All-Americans, including two that return to the field for Bryant in 2015. But a number of key losses dot the Black and Gold lineup, as Pressler will be looking to his younger ranks to step up big starting Saturday afternoon.

ATTACK
Two-time All-NEC First Teamer Shane Morrell (Glen Mills, Pa.) and NEC Rookie of the Year Tucker James (Essex Fells, N.J.) both return to the Bulldog top line, leaving one spot open for a host of suitors in 2015.

Top rookie prospects Cam Ziegler (Carlsbad, Calif.) and Trevor Bovich (West Islip, N.Y.) join sophomore Brett Baker (Ridgefield, Conn.) at the top of the ladder for the opening, and all three will likely see time at attack throughout the season.

"We have been really pleased with Baker and Ziegler, who have been sharing time at the third spot," said Pressler. "Cam and Brett are different types of players, so they each give us a different look there."

Bovich, a strong, six-foot lefty, will backup James, who finished tied for second on the team with 51 points as one of the top offensive players in the NEC last season. James's 31 goals ranked third on the side while his 20 assists were the second most behind the now-graduated Alex Zomerfeld (25 assists, 16 goals). Morrell paced the team with 61 points off a side-high 44 goals and 17 assists, scoring five game winners for the Black and Gold in 2014.

"Tucker and Shane are our two stalwarts, our two veteran guys back there," said Pressler. "They are as good a duo as there is in the NEC at the offensive end, in my opinion."

MIDFIELD
"After a lengthy preseason, two guys have really stood out, and that's junior Collins Gantz (Denver, Colo.) and sophomore Ryan Sharpe (Poway, Calif.)," said Pressler. "Arguably our two best athletes on the team, both are accomplished two-way midfielders, which we really like."

Gantz, a two-year starter, is the only returner to the top midfield unit – a line that saw the most significant losses with the graduation of MLL draftees Zomerfeld and Colin Dunster, who was also named an Honorable Mention All-American. The duo combined for 92 points in their senior season, while Gantz added 28 off 16 goals and 12 helpers. The 21-game starter will now be expected to utilize his experience to lead the unit in 2015.

Despite seeing time in just nine games in his rookie campaign, Sharpe is expected to help fill the first-line gaps left by graduation. Senior lefty Brian Schlansker (Glenville, N.Y.) (11g, 9a) will anchor the second midfield unit, and three newcomers are in the mix to fill in the remaining slots on each of the top two lines.

Though battling injury throughout the preseason, redshirt-sophomore Maryland transfer Tom Forsberg (Huntington, N.Y.) has impressed the Bulldog coaching staff when he's been healthy, as have a pair of outstanding two-way freshmen in Tom Kennedy (Farmingdale, N.Y.) and Nick Hallmark (Novato, Calif.).

"Those two guys are in the mix for spots in the second midfield," said Pressler of the lightning fast Kennedy and the quick Hallmark.

Also fighting for time in the midfield are sophomores Mike Tufano (East Northport, N.Y.) (5 appearances in 2014), Spencer Herman (Mountain Lakes, N.J.) (11 appearances, 1 assist) and Pearse McEneaney (Glastonbury, Conn.) (2 appearances), as well as rookie Tom Vailas (Bedford, N.H.).

SHORTSTICK DEFENSIVE MIDFIELD
The Bulldogs lost a pair of unsung heroes in the defensive midfield last season in seniors JK Poirier and Rob Goeren, but one player with a familiar last name leads the running to replace the duo.

Redshirt-freshman Kenny Massa (Huntington, N.Y.) – the younger brother of faceoff specialist and All-American Kevin Massa (Huntington, N.Y.) –  is expected to step into the role from the start and will be joined by the likes of senior Rob Cordisco (Weston, Conn.) and frosh Kyle Cornell (Darien, Conn.) as the top three shortstick options.

"There are some big shoes to fill, losing Goeren and Poirier, but Kenny Massa has been outstanding throughout the preseason," said Pressler. "And the beauty of those three is that they are all accomplished offensive players as well, so we can leave them on the field at times to give us even greater depth in the midfield."

LONGSTICK DEFENSIVE MIDFIELD
Arguably the Bulldogs' most talented position a season ago, Pressler's top three long poles all return, ready for action this spring.

Sophomore Cody O'Donnell (Smithfield, R.I.) headlines the trio, having appeared in all 21 games while contributing an impressive 10 goals (14 points) as the nation's top-scoring long pole in 2014. O'Donnell also chipped in 11 caused turnovers and 39 ground balls, netting the game-winning goal in a 7-6 victory over intrastate rival Providence College last spring.

Sophomore Jared Kaden (Martinsville, N.J.) also played in all 21 contests as a rookie, recording three points, including a key assist in the Bulldogs' 10-9 stunner over No. 2 Syracuse at the Carrier Dome in the NCAA First Round.

Junior William Gould (New Canaan, Conn.) also returns to the LSM ranks after taking part in 37 games over the last two seasons. Gould registered one assist, six ground balls and one caused turnover in 2014.

"We are really, really excited that the strength of our team a year ago remains our strength in 2015," said Pressler. "To be able to play three very different but very dynamic long poles has been such an advantage for us, so to have them all returning is very, very comforting."

FACEOFF
The first-ever First Team All-American for Bryant University in any sport in the Division I era, Kevin Massa returns to the turf for his final season donning the Black and Gold in 2015. The 26th overall pick of this year's MLL Collegiate Draft (Charlotte Hounds), Massa is a two-time All-American and two-time NEC and New England Player of the Year and has set the national standard at the faceoff X over the last three seasons.

Already the NCAA leader in career ground balls (593) and on pace to set the all-time marks for faceoffs won and ground balls per game, Massa enters his senior season having led the nation in faceoff winning percentage and total ground balls in each of the last two seasons. He will return to the X, however, facing new rules and restrictions regarding faceoff procedure.

"What do you say about the career of Kevin Massa?" said Pressler. "In so many ways, Kevin has been the face of our program the last couple of years, and deservedly so. The challenge for Kevin is going to be the new rules, and not just how he handles them, but how our wings can support him, as well."

Backing up Kevin will be younger brother, Kenny.

"Kenny is no question better than Kevin was at the same age," said Pressler.

CLOSE DEFENSE
Despite the loss of starter Matt MacGrotty from the Bulldog backline, Pressler expects his close defense to be at its most athletic in years, led by four-year starter and senior captain Connor Dent (Havertown, Pa.).

"It falls to Connor to really lead that group at the defensive end," said Pressler. "He's been a four-year starter, logged a lot of minutes and he's had a great career after three years."

Next to him will be NEC All-Rookie Teamer Kyle Mummau (Carlsbad, Calif.), who is coming off a stellar freshman season that saw him start all 21 games, picking up 17 ground balls and causing 11 turnovers while consistently covering the opponent's top attackman each week.

"We anticipate he will be our lead guy again this year as far as matchups go," said Pressler.

The third starter will be redshirt-freshman Chas South (Lincroft, N.J.), who won a starting job last year before suffering a season-ending injury in a preseason scrimmage. The fourth defenseman role will fall to frosh Anthony Johnson (Fairfield, Conn.), who could also see time as an LSM in 2015.

"He had a great preseason," Pressler said of Johnson. "I can't say enough about the progress and the impact Anthony has made at the defensive end.

"We like this group of defensemen," he continued. "It's not the biggest group we've had, but it is a much more athletic one than we've ever had at that position."

GOAL
For a program that is anchored by its top-ranked defense year-in and year-out, junior All-American and 2014 Tewaaraton Semifinalist Gunnar Waldt (Freeland, Md.) represents the cornerstone of the 2015 Bulldog squad.

"Of the all the schools that sponsor Division I lacrosse, I don't think anyone can say they have a better goalie than we have in No. 40," said Pressler. "Not only is he an exceptional stopper, he is great in the clearing game, has incredible lacrosse IQ and is as vocal of a leader as we have ever had around here."

The reigning NEC Defensive Player of the Year, Waldt finished the 2014 campaign as the only goalie in the nation to rank in the top-10 in save percentage (.593, fourth), goals against average (7.92, fifth) and saves per game (11.45, eighth), leading the NEC in all three statistics. He anchored a Bryant defense that ranked fifth in the NCAA and a man-down unit ranked fourth nationally, all while setting a trio of new single-season program records.

Waldt will be backed up between the pipes by senior Ethan Kibrick (Manalapan, N.J.) and freshman James Werner (New Rochelle, N.Y.).

Saturday's 1:00 p.m. faceoff from the Bryant Turf Complex can be seen live and free-of-charge at NECFrontRow.com.