Women's lax hosts PA foes this weekend

Women's lacrosse hosts two NEC matches this weekend

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – The Bryant University women's lacrosse team will play its final two home games of the season this weekend as the Bulldogs welcome Saint Francis (PA) Friday night (7 p.m.) before rounding out the 2012 home slate Sunday afternoon against Robert Morris (12 p.m.) in a key two-game stretch against a pair of Northeast Conference opponents at the Bryant Turf Complex.

The Bulldogs (4-8, 3-2 NEC) will look to continue their season-high three-game winning streak in league play after victories over Mount St. Mary's, 12-10, and Monmouth, 10-8, on the road last weekend.

Junior Danielle Conwell has paced the field offensively for the Red Flash (2-11, 0-5 NEC), as SFU enters the weekend looking to record its first conference win of the season. Conwell has collected a team-high 54 points on a side-high 36 goals and 18 assists so far this season.

Saint Francis receives its remaining offensive power from its midfielders, Kate Simmons and Samantha Barton, and attacker, Casey Burk. Simmons leads the team in draw controls (40) and has chipped in on the defensive front adding 21 caused turnovers while garnering 18 markers on the season. Barton follows close behind touting 31 draw controls and has contributed 16 tallies. Burk completes the offensive package with 16 points on 13 goals and three helpers.

Freshman Caitlin Flynn has seen the bulk of the action between the pipes for the Flash, sporting a 15.07 goals-against average with 136 saves in her young career.  Aiding in the defensive third is Catherine Helming, who has recovered 21 ground balls and totaled 18 caused turnovers.

The Colonials (4-9, 2-3 NEC) enter the weekend hoping to collect two more conference victories with a match against Central Connecticut on Friday before facing the Bulldogs on Sunday. Midfielder Talia Waskowicz leads the team offensively with 29 points (26-3–29). Also boasting strong offensive numbers are senior Courtney Sicinski and sophomore MacKenzie Lawler.  The duo has tallied 17 and 14 markers, respectively, to round out the group of potent scorers for the Colonials.

Gathering 83 saves while posting a 11.70 goals-against average, Kaitlin Pentz will likely see time in goal for Robert Morris. Senior Colleen O'Donnell has assisted on defense with 28 draw controls, 43 ground balls and 26 caused turnovers.

The Black and Gold will continue to feed off its quartet of top scorers.  Earning her 100^th tally of her career against Mount St. Mary's last week, senior Lauren Sheridan (Bethpage, N.Y.) did not tapper off against Monmouth, scoring a game-high five goals in a victory over the Hawks. She has combined with classmate Mary Green (Merrick, N.Y.) to garner 45 goals in 12 games this season.

Sophomore Haley Bloom (Happauge, N.Y.) currents resides over the team lead in in scoring (29-4--33) after scoring a career-high five goals against the Mount and tallying three more against Monmouth last weekend. Lisa Vendel (Sandy Hook, Conn.) has chipped in 13 goals and three assists on the 2012 season while defensively adding 21 groundballs and 15 caused turnovers.

Winning her third NEC Defensive Player of the Week, senior Lauren Filippone (West Babylon, N.Y.) will take her place in net to lead the Bulldogs. Fillippone has started all 12 games, notching 134 saves on the year with an impressive 10.81 goals-against average.