Bulldogs defeat Vermont 12-8 Saturday

SMITHFIELD, RI – Sophomore Jess DeMeo (Mount Sinai, NY) scored three goals while freshman Caitlin Breglia (Long Beach, NY) added three goals of her own plus added an assist to help lead the Bryant University women's lacrosse team to a 12-8 non-conference win over visiting Vermont Saturday afternoon at the Conaty Indoor Athletic Center.

Bryant (2-1) jumped out to a quick 1-0 lead on a goal from Breglia six minutes into the game but the Catamounts would answer right back as Meredith Moore (Baltimore, Md.) tied the game with a goal of her own just over a minute later. With the score tied 2-2, Breglia notched her second of the game with 15:08 left to help kick-start four unanswered goals by the Bulldogs to close out the half. 

After a Catamount penalty, sophomore Lauren Britton (Monmouth Beach, NJ) scored after a nice move in front of the UVM net to make it 4-2. The Bulldogs kept the pressure on in the offensive end and freshman Maggie Pressler (Smithfield, RI) capitalized with a goal to make it 5-2. Less than a minute later, senior Emily Columbus (East Northport, NY) ripped a high shot past Vermont netminder (Maddy Kuras (Maple Grove, Minn.) sending the Bulldogs into the halftime break leading 6-2.

Bryant would stretch its lead minutes into the second half on a goal from Leah Nocera (Westwood, Mass.) as the freshmen netted her first of the game to make it 7-2, but the Catamounts would make a run of their own.

Brynne Yarranton (Toronto, Ont.) took a nice feed from teammate Alison Bolt (Tully, NY) and beat Bryant goalie Samantha Santeramo (Wantagh, NY) in front for the first of three-straight goals by the visitors.  Molly Little (Tiverton, RI) and Bolt scored back-to-back goals in a span of just over a minute to help Vermont pull within 7-5 with 25:36 to play.

But Bryant would come right back thanks to back-to-back goals by DeMeo to make it 9-5. A few minutes later, Catlin Brown (San Diego, Calif.) scored her second goal of the game after taking a perfect pass in front from Breglia with only two seconds left on the shot clock.

Santeramo (6 saves) and the Bulldogs' defense would come up big to help preserve the lead.  The Bulldog netminder stopped two quick point-blank shots from UVM's Bolt with 17 minutes remaining and with 15:55 left, the junior made a huge save to deny Jenny Caoili (Lagrangeville, NY) on a free position shot.    

Senior defender Molly Martin (Island Park, NY) had four ground balls to go with several big clears late in the second half while teammate Carly Cronin (Feeding Hills, Mass.) added a pair of ground balls on the day. Yarranton would finish with three goals to pace the Catamounts who fall to 0-6 on the season.

Bryant will return to action on Wednesday with a non-conference game at Brown University (4 pm) while Vermont returns home to host Holy Cross on Tuesday afternoon.