James scores twice in final minutes, Bulldogs escape with 5-3 win over Wagner Saturday

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Sophomore attack Tucker James (Essex Fells, N.J.) scored twice in the final two minutes of the contest to break at 3-3 deadlock and lift the Bryant University men's lacrosse team to its first Northeast Conference victory of the season, 5-3, at Wagner Saturday afternoon.

James's tallies came just 18 seconds apart, and the Bulldogs (3-7, 1-2 NEC) scored four unanswered fourth-quarter goals to come from behind in the win. Wagner (4-5, 1-1) saw scores from three different Seahawks and outshot the Black and Gold, 29-20, despite the loss.

The host Seahawks broke open a 1-1 halftime tie with a two-goal third quarter, seeing three straight tallies spanning the second and third frames. Leading scorer Andrew Streilein equaled a first-quarter Tom Forsberg (Huntington, N.Y.) goal with 12:16 to go in the second for the halftime draw, and scores from Billy Orme and JP Pawela three minutes apart midway through the third sent the hosts into the final period with a 3-1 advantage.

Sophomore longstick midfielder Cody O'Donnell (Smithfield, R.I.) closed that gap to one just 14 seconds into the fourth stanza, though, and rookie Tom Kennedy (Farmingdale, N.Y.) evened the score at 3-3 with 9:36 to play in the contest.

A pushing penalty on Wagner's Kyle McGinley handed the Bulldogs their fourth extra-man opportunity of the contest with 8:26 remaining, but Bryant would not be able to capitalize, keeping the scoreboard locked at 3-3.

But following a Bryant timeout with 3:16 to go, James would keep his 19-game points scored streak alive, firing a shot past Wagner goalie Anthony Peruso with 1:49 remaining for the Bulldogs' first lead since the second quarter, 4-3. Following an ensuing Kevin Massa (Huntington, N.Y.) faceoff win, the sophomore leading scorer would get on the board again 18 seconds later, this time assisted by junior linemate Shane Morrell (Glen Mills, Pa.), to ice the 5-3 victory.

Massa would finish the day winning 9-of-11 from the faceoff X while picking up a game-high seven ground balls. The Bulldogs won the ground ball battle as a team, 24-14, and saw 10 saves from junior netminder Gunnar Waldt (Freeland, Md.). Peruso finished with 13 stops on the afternoon.

Wagner defenseman Daniel Valencia finished the contest with an impressive seven caused turnovers and five ground balls, while the Seahawks forced 13 of the Bulldogs' 19 giveaways in the tilt.

The Bulldogs continue with Northeast Conference action Tuesday night at home, hosting Sacred Heart at the Bryant Turf Complex for a 7:00 p.m. matchup. Bryant will be looking for its first back-to-back wins of the season.