Bryant rallies from six down but falls to Brown

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Faced with a six-goal deficit with 18 minutes left in regulation, the Bryant University women's lacrosse team battled to tie it up at 14 but fell 15-14 in a back and forth game with Brown for the 2018 Ocean State Cup.

GAME INFORMATION

Brown 15, Bryant 14

Records: Brown (3-2, 0-1 Ivy), Bryant (2-1)

Location: Conaty Indoor Athletic Center – Smithfield, R.I.

COACH BATCHELLER'S COMMENTS

"I thought both teams showed up ready to battle for the Ocean State Cup. Brown played a great game offensively and in transition. There were so many sparks of greatness from our team, such as our fast start and our second-half comeback and composure, helping us find the right looks to finish. We made a few key errors that hurt us in the end, but these are great learning lessons for us in the future. It's never fun to lose but there was so much good that came from this game. I'm really proud of our team's energy, our mental toughness and heart in coming back from a six-goal deficit and our offensive flexibility. I know we are on the brink of something really special. We have a lot more lacrosse to play this season and are ready to make this one a year to remember."

KEY MOMENT

After Bryant jumped out to a 4-0 lead in under five minutes, Brown rallied to score 10 of the next 11 goals through the end of the half to take a five-goal lead into the break.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Powered by a pair of goals from senior Catlin Brown (San Diego, Calif.), Bryant was able to jump on the Bears fast with four goals in 4:36.

Caroline Zaffino scored five of the next seven Brown goals, including one with a woman up, to give Brown a two-goal lead.

Risa Mosenthal, Hafsa Moinuddin and Emma DeGennaro would score the next three, building Brown's lead to five heading into the break.

The teams split four goals evenly in the first 11:10 of the second half, with Mosenthal scoring both for the Bears and senior Meaghan Brennan (Glen Head, N.Y.) and junior Meredith James (Essex Falls, N.J.) scoring for the Bulldogs.

After back to back Brown goals, the Bulldogs ripped off a five-goal run, with three coming from junior Jess DeMeo (Mount Sinai, N.Y.) and the others coming from sophomore Caitlin Breglia (Long Beach, N.Y.) and junior Lauren Britton (Monmouth Beach, N.J.) to cut Brown's lead to one.

Brown and Britton would go back to back after the Bears took a two-goal lead, knotting the game at 14 with 6:19 left.

Mosenthal would give the Bears the goal they would need with 5:46 left, putting them up 15-14.

STATS

The Bulldogs were edged in the shot count 35-34.

Bryant won the turnover battle, forcing 13 for the Bears and only recording 10.

Bryant secured 19 ground balls to Brown's 14.

Senior Samantha Santeramo (Wantagh, N.Y.) recorded 15 saves on the night.

Six different Bulldogs found the back of the net, led by Brown's four goals and DeMeo's and Britton's three each.

Britton won six draws, while James chipped in five.

Senior Madison McNally (East Northport, N.Y.) recorded two caused turnovers.

NOTES

Senior Kristie Voswinkel (Newtown, Conn.) recorded her first career assists, tallying two for the Black and Gold.

Junior Emma Ahlrichs (Zionsville, Ind.) matched her career high with two ground balls on the afternoon.

McNally's two CTs are even with her career-high that she has already matched once this season (2/24 vs. Albany).

Tonight was Britton's second-career hat trick. Her first came last season at Robert Morris.

UP NEXT

The Bulldogs will face another New England school in the Ivy League when they head to Cambridge, Mass. to take on Harvard on Saturday. First draw is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.