Bulldogs' rally falls short in 11-10 loss to SJU

PHILADELPHIA – The Bryant University men's lacrosse team nearly erased a seven-goal deficit but its comeback fell short in an 11-10 loss to Saint Joseph's on Saturday afternoon at Sweeney Field.

Bryant trailed 10-3 with 7:38 left in the third quarter but outscored the Hawks 7-1 the rest of the way, making it a one-goal game with 30 seconds remaining. SJU would win the ensuing the faceoff and run out the clock.

Aidan Goltz had three goals and an assist, Timmy Hackett had two goals and an assist and Bennett Abladian notched a pair. Jacob Alexander won 12-of-23 faceoffs against the nation's top faceoff man.      

Game Information
Saint Joseph's 11, Bryant 10
Records: Bryant 5-5, 3-1 NEC, SJU 9-2, 4-0 NEC
Location: Sweeney Field (Philadelphia, Pa.)

Coach Pressler's Comments
"Valiant effort by our guys to come all the way back and make it a one-goal game. But the story for us was way to many self-inflicted wounds. It is tough to beat a very good team like SJU on the road when you fail to clear and carelessly turn it over on offense. Very pleased with Jacob Alexander's play overall at the FO."

Key Moment

• Tucker Brown scored three-straight goals to open the second half and extend the Hawks' lead to 9-3.           

How it Happened

• Saint Joe's got goals from three different players to take a 3-0 lead after the first quarter.
• Abladian got Bryant on the board with a goal from the door step to make it 3-1.
• Timmy Hackett and Goltz then scored back-to-back goals to bring Bryant within 4-3.
• The Hawks scored the final two goals of the half to take a 6-3 lead into the break.
• Brown's three goals and one from Cole Peters gave the Hawks a 10-3 lead with 7:38 left in the third quarter.
• Goltz and Marc O'Rourke scored goals to make it 10-5 deficit after three quarters.
• Goltz finished his hat trick to make it 10-6 before Brown made it 11-6 with 8:51 left.
• Bryant then scored four-straight goals to make it a one-goal game with 31 seconds left. Hackett, Abladian and Groeninger started the stretch and Brody Rule made it 11-10 with a long pole goal.
• The Hawks then won the ensuing faceoff and ran the clock out.      

Stats

• Saint Joe's outshout Bryant, 49-40.
• The Bulldogs won the ground ball battle, 28-23.
• Bryant was just 12-of-20 on clears.
• Jacob Alexander won 12-of-23 faceoffs. He added nine ground balls.
• Goltz led the way with three goals and an assist for four points.
• Hackett posted three points (2g, 1a).
• Abladian had two goals and Groeninger had a goal and an assist.
• Logan McGovern had two assists.       

Game Notes

• O'Rourke now has 138 goals and 195 career points. He's five points shy of becoming only second player in DI program history with 200+ career points.
• O'Rourke has recorded a goal in 22-straight games and has scored a point in 46-straight games.
• Alexander won the faceoff battle with Zach Cole for the second-straight game.

Up Next
Bryant is at home next Saturday, hosting Sacred Heart at Beirne Stadium. Faceoff is set for 12:00 p.m.