Bulldogs set to battle Pioneers in Smithfield Saturday at 1 p.m.

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – With positioning near the top of the league standings at play, the Bryant University men's lacrosse team welcomes Sacred Heart to Smithfield Saturday at 1 p.m.

The Pioneers (6-3, 2-1 Northeast Conference) enter the contest looking strong after back-to-back league wins over Hobart (8-7) and Mount St. Mary's (13-5), and boast a 10-8 win over another common opponent in Providence College back on March 4.

The Bulldogs (6-5, 2-1) are gaining ground on an up-and-down season and are the winners of their own last two NEC matchups against Saint Joseph's (8-7) and Wagner (8-1). Bryant has dominated the all-time series between the sides with a perfect 8-0 mark dating back to the 2009 season, including wins over the Pioneers in the 2013 and 2014 NEC Tournament.

But the Bulldogs will face the strongest Sacred Heart lineup yet Saturday afternoon, led by a pair of 20-goal, 30-point scorers in senior Bryce Jurk (22g, 12a) and redshirt-sophomore Joe Saggese (21g, 12a). Max Tuttle has also found his share of time in the back of the net with 17 tallies (9 assists), while Brian Masi and Julian Garritano round out double-figure goal scorers with 12 apiece.

But the Pioneer defense is just as formidable, led by longpole Ryan O'Donoghue. The senior ranks second in the nation in caused turnovers per game, averaging 3.11 each time out, while classmate Chase Godrey ranks 16th at 1.78 per game. And getting past SHU's tough defense only takes opponents to the next challenge in goalie Brooks Dutton. The rookie ranks in the nation's top-20 in save percentage (.549) and goals against average (8.71) while averaging 10 saves per game.

As a team, Sacred Heart ranks in the top-20 in caused turnovers (2nd, 10.78), man-down defense (11th, .744), clearing percentage (18th, .894), ground balls per game (20th, 29.56) and scoring defense (20th, 9.00).

But the Pioneers will have to face an equally good Bulldog defense, led by junior netminder James Werner (New Rochelle, N.Y.) and his own top-ranked numbers. Werner sits eighth nationally in goals against average, allowing just 7.58 scores per outing, while his .554 save percentage ranks 17th.

In front of him is a close defense that has limited opponents to just 8.09 goals per outing, good for 12th nationally, and a man-down defensive unit ranked 20th on the Division I circuit (.708).

The Bulldogs will also look to own the edge at the faceoff X behind the stellar play of junior Kenny Massa (Huntington, N.Y.), who has been nothing short of spectacular over the last seven games. Since Feb. 28, the junior is converting at a 68.3 percent clip (95-139) with 53 ground balls. His .586 season mark ranks 17th nationally, while his 6.45 ground balls per game are good for 13th.

But Bryant's success in the specialty units doesn't stop there. The Bulldogs rank seventh in man-up offense, converting extra-man opportunities into goals 50 percent of the time. Senior midfielder Ryan Sharpe (Poway, Calif.) leads the charge with five man-up tallies, leading the NEC and ranking 10th nationally.

SHU will also have to contend with the league's leading scorer in senior attack Tucker James (Essex Fells, N.J.) who needs just five more points to move into third place in the all-time program record books. Averaging 2.55 goals per game on his senior season, James ranks 21st among all DI players. That mark rises to 18th in points per game, where he averages 4.27 entering weekend action.

Saturday's contest can be seen live and free-of-charge on NECfrontrow.com.