Bulldogs fall to Hawks, 12-8, Friday

WOMEN'S LACROSSE DROPS TOUGH-ONE TO UNBEATEN MONMOUTH, 12-8, FRIDAY IN SMITHFIELD

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Despite an early 5-0 advantage, the Bryant University women's lacrosse team came up just short against Northeast Conference-leader Monmouth, falling, 12-8, Friday night in Smithfield.

The Hawks (10-6, 8-0 Northeast Conference) tallied 12 of the final 15 goals, weathering the early Bulldog (8-7, 5-3 NEC) attack to remain unscathed in conference play.

Friday evening, the Bulldogs got off to a quick start scoring five goals in the first 15 minutes of play. Junior midfielder Kimberley Sniffen (Redding, Conn.) broke the scoreless tie with a free position goal nearly two minutes into the contest. Classmate Lisa Vendel (Sandy Hook, Conn.) doubled the Bryant lead with a free position goal of her own at 24:10.

Sniffen and Vendel each added another score in the next six minutes to extend the Bulldogs advantage to four goals, 4-0, just before freshman Lauren Descalzo (Hauppauge, N.Y.) topped off the Bryant run with her lone goal of the afternoon at the 14:37 mark.

Over the final 43+ minutes of play, Monmouth dominated both ends of the field, as goalkeeper Katie Donohoe stymied any hopes of a Bryant victory. Emily Barbieri got things started for the Hawks, finding the back of the net at the 13:40 mark to get Monmouth on the board. Allison Stathius began her big night with a pair of goals, cutting the Bulldog lead to just two, 5-3, with just over 10 minutes to play until halftime.

Freshman Morgan LaBarbera (New Fairfield, Conn.) notched her lone marker of the contest at the 8:43 mark, pushing Bryant edge back to three goals. In the final six minutes, Monmouth's Karlee Dean scored twice and Stathius threw in her third goal of the half to even the score, 6-6, heading into the locker room.

The Hawks did not let up in the second half as Dean wasted little type adding two more goals to her stat sheet, giving Monmouth its first lead of the night. Vendel attempted to bring the Bulldogs back, scoring at the 23:33 mark, cutting the Hawk advantage to just one.

However the Monmouth offensive was too much for Bryant to handle, as four-straight scores, highlighted by a pair from Sam Savona, put the undefeated Hawks out of reach. Vendel found the back of the net once more with just under seven minutes to play topping off yet another outstanding performance from the junior midfielder, but it was not enough at Monmouth earned a tough, 12-8, victory.

Donohoe was outstanding in net for the Hawks, collecting 11 saves in her 10th victory of the year. Junior goalkeeper Brianna Watt (Babylon, N.Y.) was solid for the Bulldogs, stopping four shots.

Bryant will close out the regular season with its postseason hopes on the line, as the Bulldogs welcome Mount St. Mary's to Smithfield for Senior Day. The Black and Gold need a victory vs. the Mountaineers on Sunday to clinch one of four spots in the upcoming NEC Tournament.

For all the latest news on the Bryant University women's lacrosse team, visit BryantBulldogs.com.