Bulldogs hold on for 13-12 road victory over Saints in up-temp battle, Tuesday afternoon

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – The Bryant University women's lacrosse team held a pair of three-goal advantages in the first half of Tuesday's contest at Siena College, but was forced to come from behind in the second and hang on for a 13-12 win.

The Bulldogs (5-3) were paced by senior attack Lauren Descalzo (Hauppauge, N.Y.) and her five points on four goals and one assist, as she grabbed sole possession of Bryant's all-time goals record (172) after her fourth score. Fellow fourth-year attack Nicole Britton (Monmouth Beach, N.J.) added three points on two assists and a score, while sophomore attack Catlin Brown (San Diego, Calif.) registered the same total on two goals and a helper. Four other Bulldogs came off the bench to add goals in the win.

Sophomore netminder Samantha Santeramo (Wantagh, N.Y.) made her second-straight start and made five stops in the first half while allowing just four goals. Although she surrendered eight goals in the second frame, she turned away eight including three crucial stops in the final couple of minutes.

The Saints (5-4) were guided by five goals from senior Sarah Croutier. Frosh Lynnzee Miller, sophomore Lauren Anglim and Cara McQuillan all registered two goals for the hosts. Freshman goalie Samantha Horton made 10 saves while allowing 13 goals in the loss.  

The Bulldogs scored the first three goals of the contest in the opening 10 minutes and held a 4-1 edge at the 15:45 mark following Descalzo's second score. Croutier single-handedly brought the Saints back into the game with a hat trick over the next four minutes to knot things up at 4-4 with 11:49 to go in the half.  

Sophomore midfielder Meaghan Brennan (Glen Head, N.Y.) ignited a 3-0 Bryant run to close out the frame and give it a 7-4 advantage at the break.

Miller netted a free-position goal just 30 seconds into the second frame to spark Siena's own 3-0 run, tying the game at 7-7 with 23:53 to play. Brown made a quick move to the cage and charged through the Siena defense for an easy netter into the lower left corner two minutes later to put the Bulldogs up, 8-7.  

Miller responded with a spin move on the other end and she converted the one-on-one matchup with Santeramo by firing a shot into the back of the net to knot the score with 20:33 remaining.

Over the next 11 minutes, both sides traded goals, keeping the game at a stalemate, 11-11, with 9:33 left.

One minute later, freshman Jess DeMeo (Mount Sinai, N.Y.) gave the Bulldogs back the lead directly in front of the cage with under nine minutes to play following a pass from Britton from the left of the crease.  

Britton tacked on the ever-important 13th goal four minutes later, and it was vital because the Saints would threaten down the stretch. Down 13-11, the Siena caused a turnover and found Michelle Schwartz all alone in transition, but her shot was denied by Santeramo on the one-on-one matchup.

Following Bryant's 22nd foul of the second stanza, Santeramo turned away a free-position shot from Briana Sirianni with 40 seconds remaining, but McQuillan picked up the ground and immediately fired in a shot to bring the hosts to within just one goal, 13-12.  

The Saints won the ensuing draw control and Croutier had a great look for the potential equalizer, but Santeramo made a tremendous stick save with 15 seconds left, and the Bulldogs were able to corral the ground ball and run out the clock for their third-straight win.  

The Bulldogs will return home for their next contest when they host UMass Lowell in the final out-of-conference matchup of the season, Wednesday, March 30 at 7:00 p.m.