Bulldogs hit the road for weekend set

BRYANT HITS ROAD, TAKES ON LIU BROOKLYN FRIDAY (4 P.M.) AND WAGNER SUNDAY (1 P.M.)

SMITHFIELD, R.I. — The Bryant University women's lacrosse team heads into a critical Northeast Conference road weekend, traveling to New York City for matchups against LIU Brooklyn (Friday, 4 p.m.) and Wagner College (Sunday, 1 p.m.) as the 2013 campaign heads into the home stretch.

The Bulldogs (6-6, 3-2 NEC) enter the road trip tied for third in the league standings and look to earn their first victory of the month after heartbreaking losses to Central Connecticut, 9-8, and intrastate rival Brown, 12-9, in their last two outings. The Blackbirds (0-13, 0-6) host the Black and Gold Friday afternoon in search of their first win of the season, while the Seahawks (5-9, 1-5) greet Bryant Sunday afternoon following their own Friday matchup against the Blue Devils.

LIU Brooklyn is led by Caitlin Farrell's team-best 30 points off 24 goals and six assists, both also side highs. Shakoya Smith follows with 17 goals (20 points), while Kimberly Kovar and Colleen Holmes add 14 tallies each.

Farrell and Alexis Cully pace the side with 21 ground balls apiece, and LIU has shown its dominance at the draw control, winning 298-of-492 opportunities. Holmes leads that push with 43, while Kovar (36), Trisha Yeoell (34), Jesenia Cantres (33) and Farrell (31) also provide strong options for the Blackbirds on the restart.

In goal, Friday's hosts have turned to a pair of netminders in Alexis Maldonado and Gina Haber, and each post goals against averages over 18 and combine for a team save percentage of .345.

Wagner enters the second-to-last NEC weekend having dropped three straight and looking to get back in the hunt in the league playoff picture. The Seahawks are paced by Jessica Mills, who boasts 49 points (20 goals, 29 assists) and is one of two 20-goal scorers, along with leading scorer Annie O'Connor (22 goals, 10 assists).

Casey McCarthy (17 goals), Stephanie Peterson (16), Kimmy Tumolo (12), Shea Gegan (11) and Gretchen Fay (10) all also contribute double-digit tallies, while 10 Seahawks have posted at least 10 points on the season so far.

Gegan's 30 ground balls lead the way defensively, as do her 32 caused turnovers, while her 25 draw controls are second only to McCarthy, who has 26 on the year. Between the pipes, Katie Ferraro has taken on most of the netminding duties, boasting an 11.01 goals against average and .412 save percentage in 13 starts and 14 appearances.

The Bulldogs will look for their offense to generate big numbers in an important weekend set. That offense is paced by a trio of juniors in Lisa Vendel (Sandy Hook, Conn.), Kimberley Sniffen (Redding, Conn.) and Haley Bloom (Hauppauge, N.Y.), with all three boasting more than 30 points on the season.

Vendel's 37 points lead the way, as do her 31 goals, while Sniffen adds in 29 goals and four helpers. Bloom has proven the most balanced offensive player, having scored 18 tallies while also dishing out a team-best 15 assists in 2013.

Rookie attack Lauren Descalzo (Hauppauge, N.Y.) has also put up top numbers in her first collegiate campaign, scoring 23 goals in 12 starts, with classmate Morgan LaBarbera (New Fairfield, Conn.) right behind with 12 goals and four assists.

And while Bloom may be the most balanced on offense, Vendel and Sniffen have proven to be the most balanced two-way players wearing the Black and Gold. Vendel leads the side with 22 caused turnovers and 24 draw controls, also chipping in 18 ground balls while going 10-for-16 on free position shots. Meanwhile, Sniffen's 28 ground balls are a team best, as the midfielder also adds 20 draw controls and 19 caused turnovers of her own, both good for second behind her linemate.

In goal, junior Brianna Watt (Babylon, N.Y.) posts a 9.94 goals against average and .438 save percentage with 92 saves this season, having faced 279 total shots in 12 starts.

Find links to live stats, stories, live webcasts and more for this weekend's games and beyond at bryantbulldogs.com.