Bryant draws Johns Hopkins in NCAA First Round
SMITHFIELD, R.I. -- The Bryant University men's lacrosse team will take on No. 6 national seed Johns Hopkins in the first round of the 2023 NCAA Men's Lacrosse Championships. The pairing was announced on Sunday night during the NCAA Selection Show.
Bryant watched the selection show in their team locker room. The Bulldogs and Blue Jays will square off on Sunday, May 14 at 12:00 p.m.
The Black and Gold qualified for the NCAA Tournament by winning their first America East Conference title on Saturday in double overtime against UAlbany, 12-11. Bryant will be competing in its sixth NCAA Tournament, having qualified in 2013, 2014, 2015, 2017 and 2021. In 2014, the Black and Gold won a play-in game against Siena before upsetting Syracuse in the Carrier Dome in the first round.
Aidan Goltz improved Bryant to 7-0 in conference championships with a wrap-around goal with 2:39 left in the second overtime on Saturday. Tournament MOP Kevin Groeninger paced the Bulldogs with a career-high tying seven points on five goals and two assists.
Johns Hopkins has been ranked in the national top 10 all season, entering the NCAA Tournament with the fourth-best RPI in the country. The Blue Jays are 11-5 overall and lost in the Big Ten Semifinals to Maryland. Johns Hopkins is a nine-time NCAA Champion and qualified for the NCAA Tournament all but one year from 1972-2018. They are making their first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2018.
The winner of this game faces the winner of Saturday's game between Utah and No. 3 Notre Dame.
Bryant DI Postseason History
2012 - NEC did not receive an automatic bid
NEC Semifinals: Bryant 11, Quinnipiac 6
NEC Championship: Bryant 12, Mount St. Mary's 6
2013
NEC Semifinals: Bryant 11, Sacred Heart 9
NEC Championship: Bryant 14, Robert Morris 7
NCAA First Round: No. 2 Syracuse 12, Bryant 7
2014
NEC Semifinals: Bryant 12, Sacred Heart 8
NEC Championship: Bryant 10, Hobart 4
NCAA Play In: Bryant 9, Siena 8
NCAA First Round: Bryant 10, No. 4 Syracuse 9
NCAA Quarterfinal: No. 6 Maryland 16, Bryant 8
2015
NEC Semifinals: Bryant 11, Hobart 8
NEC Championship: Bryant 10, Saint Joseph's 6
NCAA Play In: Marist 10, Bryant 6
2017
NEC Semifinals: Bryant 12, Robert Morris 3
NEC Championship: Bryant 5, Hobart 4
NCAA Play In: Bryant 10, Monmouth 7
NCAA First Round: No. 1 Maryland 13, Bryant 10
2021
NEC Semifinals: Bryant 14, Hobart 12
NEC Championship: Bryant 16, Saint Joseph's 10
NCAA First Round: No. 4 Virginia 13, Bryant 11
2023
AE Semifinals: Bryant 12, Binghamton 11
AE Championship: Bryant 12, UAlbany 11 (2OT)
NCAA First Round: Bryant at No. 6 Johns Hopkins