Bulldogs fall to Colonials Sunday

ROBERT MORRIS DEFEATS BRYANT 9-6 IN WOMEN' S LACROSSE
Women's Lacrosse: Robert Morris 9, Bryant 6 (Final)

SMITHFIELD, R.I.-  Bryant University's Lisa Vendel (Sandy Hook, Conn.) scored three times, but it was not enough as six different players scored at least a goal for Robert Morris as the visiting Colonials pulled away for a 9-6 Northeast Conference women's lacrosse victory here Sunday afternoon.

Talia Waskowicz, Courtney Sicinski and Erin Mossup each had a pair of goals to help Robert Morris snap a three-game losing skid and spoil Bryant's Senior Day celebration on a sun-splashed afternoon at the Turf Field Complex.

Bryant, which came into Sunday's game winners of four in-a-row, fell behind quick 3-0 in the first six minutes as Waskowicz got things started for RMU with an unassisted goal just 3:32 into the game.  The Colonials caught a break moments later when Bryant goalie Lauren Filippone (West Babylon, N.Y.) was whistled for a foul inside the Bryant crease.  With an open net on ensuing free position attempt, Courtney Sicinski made it 2-0 RMU with her 13^th goal of the season.

Vendel would finally get the Bulldogs on the board in the 19^th minute, taking a pass from teammate Haley Bloom (Hauppauge, N.Y.) and ripping a high shot past RMU goalie Katilin Pentz for the sophomore's 15^th goal of the season.

Sicinski find the back of the net just two seconds left in the first half, sending the Colonials into the break holding a 4-1 advantage. 

After two quick strikes by RMU's Waskowicz and MacKenzie Lawler to open the second half, the Bulldogs went to work, cutting the visitor's lead in half, thanks to a pair of goals from Katherine Keckeisen (Danbury, Conn.). The first after taking a nice feed from teammate Lauren Sheridan (Bethpage, N.Y.) and the second on a free position attempt to pull Bryant to within 6-3. 

Vendel would notch her second score of the day cut the lead to 7-4, but back-to-back goals from RMU's Mossop help put the game away.

Prior to the start of the game, the Bulldogs honored the Senior Class of 2012: Antoinette Lombardi (Wallingford, Conn.), Sheridan, Mackenzie Baker (Bayport, N.Y.), Mary Green (Merrick, N.Y.), and Filippone. This year's senior class, Bryant's first class since moving to Division I four years ago, have won 19 games during their careers, including 14 victories over Northeast Conference opponents, and helped lead the Bulldogs to a second-place finish in 2011.

The Bulldogs travel to Sacred Heart next Friday before wrapping up the regular season next Sunday at Quinnipiac.