LaBarbera's career high drives Bryant to 17-13 win over Robert Morris Friday

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Behind a career-high five goals from junior attack Morgan LaBarbera (New Fairfield, Conn.), the Bryant University women's lacrosse team remained perfect in Northeast Conference action with a 17-13 road victory over Robert Morris Friday afternoon.

Classmate Lauren Descalzo (Hauppauge, N.Y.) netted four goals of her own while both juniors finished the afternoon with six points. Rookie midfielder Meghan Brennan (Glen Head, N.Y.) also picked up her second-consecutive hat trick as one of seven Bulldog (10-3, 4-0 NEC) scorers on the day.

The Colonials (8-5, 1-3) were paced by five goals from Corey Karwacki, who added two assists to lead the game with seven points, and saw another three scores from Kristin Yoviene.

After letting the visiting Black and Gold run out to a 7-3 start, Robert Morris closed the opening frame by scoring six of the last eight goals, including a Dana Davis tally with 26 ticks to go, to enter the halftime break with a 9-9 draw.

Just as they had in the first half, though, the Bulldogs opened the second stanza with the three-straight tallies – coming from Brennan, LaBarbera and sophomore Emily Columbus (East Northport, N.Y.) – to take a 12-9 lead over the opening 10 minutes.

Karwacki would interject her fourth score of the game to close the gap back to two, but it wouldn't last long. Bryant would get another three-goal stretch from LaBarbera, rookie Catlin Brown (San Diego, Calif.) and Descalzo just minutes later to open its largest lead of the contest, 15-10, as the clock ticked below 16 to play.

Karwacki capped off her day on offense with 13:38 remaining in the contest, and a score from Brittany Byerly brought the hosts back within three, 15-12. But the Colonials would get no closer in the tilt.

Brown got back on the board with 8:31 to go with an unassisted tally for a 16-12 Bulldog advantage, and while Yoviene closed the gap again a minute later, Descalzo would net the final goal of the game with 1:27 remaining to cement the 17-13 final.

Junior attack Nicole Britton (Monmouth Beach, N.J.) dished out four assists for a five-point day, while Columbus added two helpers for three points on the afternoon. Senior midfielder Shannon Burns (Mount Sinai, N.Y.) also found the back of the net in the win.

Rookie netminders Samantha Santeramo (Wantagh, N.Y.) and Daja Andrews (Lumberton, N.J.) combined for three stops, with Andrews (2 saves) getting her fourth win of the season. The Colonials also split time in net, with Hallie Yancey taking the loss despite making six of the team's seven saves.

Sophomore defender Carly Cronin (Feeding Hills, Mass.) paced the contest with seven draw controls (2 caused turnovers), as the Bulldogs dominated the category, 20-12. Bryant also got the edge on the ground, 25-22, behind four ground balls from Corey Mania (Wayne, N.J.) (2 caused turnovers) and three more from LaBarbera.

Bryant outshot the Colonials, 27-21, and went 1-for-2 on free position shots.

The Bulldogs remain in Pennsylvania for one more NEC contest, taking on Saint Francis U. Sunday afternoon (12:00 p.m.).