Bryant clashes with Saint Joseph's Saturday in Smithfield
SMITHFIELD, R.I. – The Bryant University men's lacrosse team hosts Saint Joseph's Saturday in the first of three NEC regular-season home games for the Black & Gold.
The Particulars
Opponent: Saint Joseph's
Location: Beirne Stadium – Smithfield, R.I.
Date and Time: Saturday, March 23 – 12 p.m.
Tickets: Saturday
Watch: NEC Front Row
Live Stats: Presto Sports
Game Notes: Bryant
Social Media: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | #GoBryant | #NECMLax
SCOUTING THE HAWKS
Saint Joseph's is 4-4 entering its conference opener Saturday. The Hawks' four wins have come against NJIT, Monmouth, Fairfield and St. Bonaventure, with all but the Fairfield victory coming in Philadelphia.
Ryan Doran leads Saint Joseph's with 12 goals, while Nate Patterson has added 11 and Nick Vernacchio has chipped in 10. The Hawks are second in the NEC in face-off percentage at .595, just ahead of Bryant's .591.
THE SERIES
Bryant is 4-4 all-time against Saint Joseph's with a 2-1 record in Smithfield. The teams met in Philadelphia last year with the Hawks taking a 14-7 victory to spoil the Bulldogs' bid for an unblemished NEC slate.
Saint Joseph's joined the NEC as an affiliate member for men's lacrosse in 2014 and is 3-2 against Bryant during those five seasons.
LAST TIME OUT: MOUNT ST. MARY'S 10, BRYANT 7
Bryant evened the game at seven in the fourth quarter, but Mount St. Mary's responded to score the final three goals of the contest last Saturday in Emmitsburg. Sophomore Marc O'Rourke (Hingham, Mass.) scored three goals in the defeat.
OCEAN STATE'S ELEVEN
Bryant has won its last 11 NEC games played in Smithfield, dating back to 2015. The Bulldogs have posted an undefeated mark in home conference games in each of the last three seasons.
COACHING CONNECTION
Bryant head coach Mike Pressler will go up against one of his former players Saturday with Saint Joseph's head coach Taylor Wray on the opposing sideline. Wray was a captain for Pressler at Duke in 2003 and helped the Blue Devils to ACC titles in 2001 and 2002.
MAKING HIS MARC
Sophomore Marc O'Rourke ranks tied for third in the NEC in goals (22) and fourth in points (30) entering the weekend. O'Rourke has scored nine goals in his last two games.
CONFERENCE CALL
Bryant has a 38-12 record in NEC games since the conference began sponsoring men's lacrosse in 2010. The 38 wins are the most by any conference team - nine more than Robert Morris - and the .760 winning percentage is the best of the five teams that have been NEC members since the conference's formation.
NEXT UP: WAGNER
Bryant closes the month of March on Staten Island when the Bulldogs face Wagner next Saturday at Hameline Field. The noon opening face-off can be seen on NEC Front Row.
Tickets for the 2019 campaign at Beirne Stadium are available by clicking HERE.
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