Bulldogs hit the road for weekend pair, look to stay perfect in NEC play

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – The Bryant University women's lacrosse team looks to stay perfect in league play, as it travels to Pennsylvania for conference matchups against Robert Morris Friday at 3 p.m. and Saint Francis U. Sunday at 12 p.m.

The Bulldogs (9-3, 3-0 Northeast Conference) have won three in a row since the beginning of April and the start of NEC play. The league's fourth-ranked offense, Bryant is led by a trio of attackers in Emily Columbus (East Northport, N.Y.), Lauren Descalzo (Hauppauge, N.Y.) and Nicole Britton (Monmouth Beach, N.J.).

Columbus continued her torrid pace last week, scoring nine goals in two games to earn her second NEC Player of the Week award. The sophomore brought her team-high totals to 49 points and 41 goals, and she enters the weekend ranked third in the NEC with 3.08 goals and 4.08 points per game.

Descalzo is right behind her with 36 goals and 41 points on the season after eight points last week, including a game-high five Sunday against LIU Brooklyn. The junior also ranks second in the NEC with 3.27 goals per game.

Rounding out the top attacking trio is Britton, who tallied seven points in the last two games off two goals and five assists. The junior posts a team-high 21 helpers and 37 points, good for third on the squad. Britton also ranks atop the NEC with 1.91 assists per game. Her 21 helpers this season are just two shy of tying Bryant's Division I single-season record set by Haley Bloom ('14) just last season.  

Bryant's top-ranked NEC defense only allows 8.42 goals per game behind freshmen goalkeepers Samantha Santeramo (Wantagh, N.Y.) and Daja Andrews (Lumberton, N.J.), who continue to split time in net. Santeramo has started the last eight games and posts a 6-1 overall record this season. The rookie's 8.80 goals against average is best in the conference and her .430 save percentage is good for third.

Defensively, the Bulldogs are anchored by sophomores Molly Martin (Island Park, N.Y.) and Carly Cronin (Feeding Hills, Mass.). Martin has a team-high 19 caused turnovers and is second best with 26 ground balls. Cronin leads with 27 ground balls and is second on the team with 12 caused turnovers.

Friday's matchup will feature the highest scoring offense in the league in the Colonials (8-4, 1-2) at 15.25 goals per game. Senior midfielder Kristin Yoviene leads Robert Morris with 52 points, which includes a team-high 30 goals and 22 assists. Junior Corey Karwacki ranks second on the team with 44 points off 27 goals and 17 assists. Sophomore Hallie Yancey has earned the last five starts in net and posts a 10.78 goals against average this season.

On Sunday, the Black and Gold will take on the Red Flash (3-9, 0-3) in Loretto, Pa. The Saint Francis offense is paced by sophomore midfielder Holly Lawrence, whose 28 points lead the team. The Red Flash also field a pair of 20-goal scorers in Christina Fini and Rebecca Meyer. Sophomore goalie Heather McKee has started all 12 games for Saint Francis and has stopped 108 shots while posting a 14.09 goals against average on the season.

Fans can visit bryantbulldogs.com for links to live stats and available webcasts of this weekend's contests.