Cerino scores six in Senior Day shootout

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Senior Ryan Cerino (Greer, S.C.) tied the Bryant University men's lacrosse Division I single-game record with six goals on his Senior Day, but the Bulldogs were held off by Robert Morris in a 20-16 shootout Saturday at Beirne Stadium.

Cerino, who entered the day with three career goals, helped Bryant to its highest offensive output of the season. He ties the Division I program record set Feb. 19, 2009 by Zack Greer and Bryan Kaufmann and later matched by Greer and twice each by Tucker James and sophomore Marc O'Rourke (Hingham, Mass.).

Junior LSM Zach Coffey (West Newbury, Mass.) scored his sixth goal of the year and collected a career-high eight ground balls.

GAME INFORMATION
Robert Morris 20, Bryant 16
Records: Bryant (3-10, 1-5 NEC), Robert Morris (6-7, 3-2 NEC)
Location: Beirne Stadium (Smithfield, R.I.)

COACH PRESSLER'S COMMENTS
"Today was a valiant effort by our guys on Senior Day. We cut it to a two-goal game with six minutes to go, and once again had a chance to make some plays down the stretch to win it, and unfortunately Robert Morris closed us out. I could not be more thrilled for Ryan Cerino with six goals on Senior Day. Zach Coffey was an absolute beast at the other end, especially between the lines. For us, we get ready for a big night Tuesday. It's our first night game at Beirne Stadium and we get to play Brown for the Ocean State Cup. Winner take all; looking forward to Tuesday."

KEY MOMENT

• Bryant took a 5-1 lead before Robert Morris responded with seven straight goals to lead 8-5 in the first minute of the second quarter. 

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Robert Morris opened the scoring 3:33 into the contest before Bryant answered with the next five, getting three from Cerino and one each from junior Trevor Weingarten (Allendale, N.J.) and O'Rourke, as Cerino's hat trick put Bryant up 5-1 with 5:59 to play in the opening quarter.
• The Colonials would score the final six goals of the first quarter and add another after the break to go ahead 8-5 with 14:03 left before halftime.
• Bryant scored three of the next four, with goals from redshirt-freshman Nick Beeson (Poway, Calif.), freshman Mason Balch (Westfield, Mass.) and Weingarten bringing Bryant within 9-8 with 11:10 remaining in the second quarter.
• Robert Morris scored the final three goals of the half to head to the locker room leading 12-8.
• The teams traded the next eight scores, with Bryant goals from Cerino, redshirt-junior Jake Buonaiuto (Miller Place, N.Y.), Coffey and O'Rourke being matched by RMU tallies to put the Colonials ahead 16-12 with 11:32 to go in the game.
• The Colonials went ahead 17-12 before the Bulldogs scored the next three – two from Cerino and one from O'Rourke – to cut the deficit to 17-15 with 6:19 to play.
• Robert Morris scored the next three before a Weingarten goal with 19 seconds to play rounded out the scoring.

STATS

• Cerino recorded six goals on eight shots while putting all six shots on goal past the Colonial goalie.
• Weingarten posted three goals, four assists and five ground balls. The goal total matched his career-best while the assist and ground ball numbers were career-highs.
• O'Rourke collected three goals and three assists, moving within one point of 100 for his collegiate career. The three assists tied O'Rourke's career-high.
• Balch notched a goal and career-best three assists.
• Coffey scored a goal, scooped a career-high eight ground balls and tallied a caused turnover.
• Sophomore Emmet Kemble (Clifton, Va.) collected a career-best six ground balls.
• Junior James Stoler (Penfield, N.Y.) was a team-best 11-for-18 at the face-off X.
• Shots were even at 51 for each team.
• Bryant held a 45-41 advantage in ground balls.
• The Bulldogs recorded on the lone extra-man opportunity of the game with a goal from O'Rourke.

GAME NOTES

• Bryant drops to 9-4 all-time against Robert Morris.
• O'Rourke scored a goal for the 17^th consecutive game Saturday. Entering the weekend, only 10 players in the nation had a longer scoring streak.

UP NEXT
Bryant closes out the 2019 season Tuesday night when the Bulldogs host Brown for the Ocean State Cup. The game can be seen on NEC Front Row and tickets are available HERE.

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