Bulldogs claim outright NEC title despite 9-8 OT loss in regular-season finale; Bryant set to host NEC Tournament May 1-3

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Despite being beaten by junior attack Lauren Descalzo (Hauppauge, N.Y.) four times, Mount St. Mary's goalie Steph Rurkowski made an impressive 12 saves, including two in the final minute of both regulation and overtime, to lead her team to a 9-8 overtime win over the top-seeded Bryant University in Sunday afternoon's regular-season finale.

Despite the loss, the Bulldogs (12-4, 6-1 Northeast Conference) claim the outright 2015 NEC regular-season title, and will host the league tournament Friday, May 1 and Sunday, May 3 at the Bryant Turf Complex as the No. 1 seed. The Mountaineers (6-10, 5-2) claim the No. 3 seed despite finishing in a two-way tie with Wagner for second in the standings.

Three of Rurkowski's four game-saving stops inside the final minute were on Descalzo shots, through it was the junior leading scorer who gave the hosts an 8-5 edge midway through the second frame with her fourth score of the day, this one assisted by sophomore attack Emily Columbus (East Northport, N.Y.).

But that goal would prove to be the last for the Black and Gold, as the Mount netted back-to-back tallies just 47 seconds apart to close the margin to 8-7 with 11:53 left in regulation.

Nicole Lantuh (2 goals, 1 assist) would net the game-tying goal with 5:37 left on the clock, and while the Bulldogs maintained possession for the entire remainder of regulation, Descalzo saw two shots turned away in the final 14 seconds to force Bryant's first overtime game of the season.

A free position attempt awarded to the Mount just 1:15 into overtime would prove to be the game winner, as Sammie Knapp found space behind Bulldog rookie netminder Samantha Santeramo (Wantagh, N.Y.) (7 saves) for a 9-8 edge that would stick through the final whistle despite a barrage of Bryant shots throughout the final minutes.

Columbus found the back of the net twice for the Black and Gold, also adding an assist, while juniors Morgan LaBarbera (New Fairfield, Conn.) (1g, 2a) and Nicole Britton (Monmouth Beach, N.J.) (3a) also chipped in three points apiece. Frosh Catlin Brown (San Diego, Calif.) notched a tally on the afternoon, as well.

Lantuh, Kelly Maloney and Erin Seipp each had two goals and one assist for the Mount, while Marley Heller netted a pair of her own and Knapp finished the day with a goal and an assist.

Bryant outshot Mount St. Mary's, 26-19, on the day, including 6-1 in overtime, and won the ground ball battle, 16-14. The Bulldogs doubled up the Mount off the draw, 14-7, thanks to a game-high four wins from Britton.

The 2015 Northeast Conference Tournament Semifinals will be played Friday, May 1, pitting No. 1 Bryant against No. 4 Robert Morris and No. 2 Wagner against No. 3 Mount St. Mary's. The Bulldogs topped the Colonials in their only previous meeting of the season, 17-13, in Moon Township, Pa.