Bryant travels to No. 19 Boston University for Tuesday night matchup (7p)

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – The Bryant University men's lacrosse team looks to keep momentum on its side heading into the toughest test of the season so far, as the Bulldogs take on No. 19 Boston University on the road Tuesday night.

Tuesday night's game marks the home opener for the 4-0 Terriers, who will be riding a high of their own after a last-second 8-7 victory over No. 17/18 Navy on the road Saturday. The Bulldogs (2-2) earned their first home win Saturday with a 17-11 victory over Hartford.

"Tuesday games, in so many ways, are players' games," said Bryant head coach Mike Pressler. "There is very little time for preparation – only a day or two – so both teams will be counting on the momentum of two great wins, ours vs. Hartford and theirs vs. Navy."

The backbone of the Terriers' season-opening winning streak has been solid defensive play, starting with Christian Carson-Banister between the pipes. The senior ranks sixth in the nation in saves per game (13.00), third in save percentage (.675) and fourth in goals against average (6.55), and BU as a team leads the nation in saves per contest (16.00).

Carson-Banister is fronted by a stellar close defense that, as a unit, has the Terriers sitting fifth in the NCAA in scoring defense, allowing just 6.75 goals per outing. Two Terriers rank in the top-50 in ground balls per game.

"There's no secret here, BU's strength has been their defense, and they are getting outstanding play in the goal," said Pressler. "It is going to be a difficult task for us, getting the ball by [Carson-Banister]."

Offensively, BU is paced by 15 points from Cal Dearth, who also leads the team in goals (9) and assists (6). Jack Wilson, the hero of Saturday's comeback victory, boasts seven scores and two helpers, while Brendan Homire has five tallies (3 assists). Ryan Hilburn has been a key distributer with six assists (3 goals), while Hayden Ruiz has dished out five dimes.

Joe Stucky and reigning Patriot League Defensive Player of the Week Greg Wozniak combine for 38 ground balls, with the former going 41-of-76 (.539) from the faceoff X.

"We have to gain possession of the ball and that starts at the faceoff X," said Pressler. "We were subpar at that Saturday. We have to equal out those possessions, and that starts with No. 31 [Kenny Massa] and his wings."

Tuesday's game faces off at 7 p.m. and can be seen live at PatriotLeague.TV.

TURN THE PAGE
Of all the adjustments the Bulldogs made heading into Saturday's game against the Hawks, the most successful might just have been in taking care of the ball. Bryant turned the ball over just eight times in its 17-11 win over Hartford, marking the fewest single-game turnovers in the program's Division I era and eighth fewest all-time. Only two of those turnovers came at the offensive end.

BRYANT AGAINST RANKED OPPONENTS
Tuesday marks the first ranked opponent the Bulldogs will face in 2017 despite previously matching up against Bucknell and Providence teams that were receiving votes in the national polls. Since 2014, the Bulldogs are 4-8 against nationally ranked foes, including a 4-2 mark in 2014 that saw the Black and Gold go all the way to the NCAA Quarterfinals. Bryant was 2-1 last season, tying their highest-ranked win in program history with an 11-10 overtime victory against intrastate rival and then-No. 2/3 Brown. The Bulldogs topped a Syracuse team ranked second in the nation in the first round of the 2014 NCAA tournament, 10-9, at the Carrier Dome.

SOMETHING SEEMS FAMILIAR…
Though both teams have only played four games, Bryant and BU already have two opponents in common. Both sides faced off against Providence and Hartford already this season, with the Terriers winning both and the Bulldogs splitting. BU needed two overtimes for an 8-7 victory over the Friars, who beat the Black and Gold, 7-6, on Feb. 18. BU beat the Hawks on the road, 12-5, on Feb. 18, while Bryant defeated Hartford Saturday, 17-11.