Bryant faces Virginia Sunday in NCAA First Round

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – The No. 17/19 Bryant University men's lacrosse team is set to face No. 4 seed Virginia in the first round of the 2021 NCAA Division I Men's Lacrosse Championships on Sunday afternoon. Faceoff is set for 12:00 p.m.

Sunday's game will air on ESPNU. 

Bryant will be making its fifth NCAA Tournament appearance in Division I program history after claiming its sixth Northeast Conference title last weekend against Saint Joseph's. The Bulldogs have also played in the NCAA Tournament in 2013, 2014, 2015, 2017 and 2021. Bryant owns a 3-4 record in the NCAA Tournament, advancing to the NCAA Quarterfinals in 2014.   

The Particulars
Opponent: No. 4 Virginia
Location: Klöckner Stadium (Charlottesville, Va.)
Date and Time: Sunday, May 16 – 12:00 p.m.
Watch: ESPNU 
Live Stats: Sunday
Game Notes: Bryant
Social Media: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | #GoBryant | #NECMLax 

THE SERIES
Bryant and Virginia will be meeting for the second time in program history on Sunday. The Bulldogs played their first-ever Division I game against the Cavaliers in 2009, with the UVA earning a 10-4 victory.    

SCOUTING THE CAVALIERS
Virginia enters the NCAA Tournament with a 10-4 overall record. The Cavaliers went 2-4 in the ACC this season. Virginia is also the defending National Champions, having won the last tournament held in 2019. UVA is led by Connor Shellenberger who has posted 23 goals and 32 assists for 55 points. Matt Moore has added 54, while Petey LaSalla holds the seventh-best faceoff percentage in the NCAA.  

BRYANT NOTES AND NOTABLES

• The Bulldogs enter Sunday at 9-3 overall following a 16-10 victory in the NEC Championship.   
• Bryant is now 6-0 all-time in NEC title games. The Bulldogs have won titles in 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2017 and 2021.
• Bryant has won four-straight games and is averaging over 17 goals per game in those contests. The Bulldogs have scored 20, 20, 14 and 16. 
• Luke Caracciolo was named the NEC Tournament MVP after making 35 saves and stopping 61 percent of the shots he faced last week. 
• Bennett Abladian leads the Bulldogs with 28 goals and has scored 15 in his last four games. He netted five goals in back-to-back games against LIU and Hobart. 
• In addition to Abladian's 28, Bryant's true freshmen have combined for 66 of the team's 166 goals (40 percent). 
• Marc O'Rourke missed the first eight games of the year due to myocarditis but has recorded 23 points (20g, 3a) in the four games he's appeared in.  
• O'Rourke became just the fourth player in DI program history to reach the 100-goal mark, entering Saturday with 111.  
• Logan McGovern leads Bryant with 42 points.  
• Bryant's defense continues to be led by LaJhon Jones, Brody Rule and Ryan Baker. The trio has combined for 65 ground balls and 41 caused turnovers.

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