Bryant starts NEC play Friday at Sacred Heart
FAIRFIELD, Conn. – The Bryant University women's lacrosse team begins its seven-game Northeast Conference schedule Friday when the Bulldogs travel to face Sacred Heart.
The Particulars
Opponent: Sacred Heart
Location: Campus Field (Fairfield, Conn.)
Date and Time: Friday, April 5 – 3 p.m.
Watch: NEC Front Row
Live Stats: Presto Sports
Game Notes: Bryant
Social Media: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | #GoBryant | #NECWLax
SCOUTING THE PIONEERS
Sacred Heart is 1-8 on the year with the lone victory coming March 16 against UMass Lowell. The Bulldogs and Pioneers have one mutual non-conference opponent, as Bryant defeated Brown 14-13 and the Pioneers fell to the Bears 17-2.
Hanna Wise has scored 18 of Sacred Heart's 50 goals, while Cassie Cesario has contributed to 19 of them with 12 goals and seven assists. Cesario has added a team-high 21 ground balls along with 10 caused turnovers.
THE SERIES
Bryant is 9-3 in the all-time series and has won each of the last eight meetings, including NEC Semifinal victories in 2016 and 2017. The Bulldogs are 2-3 in games at Sacred Heart, but six of the last eight contests between the teams have been in Smithfield.
Jess DeMeo (Mount Sinai, N.Y.) scored a team-high five goals in last year's 18-6 win over Sacred Heart at the Bryant Track & Turf Complex. Lauren Britton (Monmouth Beach, N.J.) added two goals and seven of Bryant's Division I single-game record 21 draw controls (a total matched March 20 against Canisius.) The Bulldogs led 6-5 at the half before netting the next 10 goals.
LAST TIME OUT: FRESNO STATE 18, BRYANT 12
Senior Jess DeMeo and sophomore Natalie Langella (Northport, N.Y.) scored three goals each, but Fresno State used a six-goal run in the second half to pull away and pick up a win in Smithfield last Friday.
RECORD STORE
Bryant saw three program records fall last week with a pair of seniors achieving the feats.
» Senior Jess DeMeo passed Lauren Descalzo for Bryant's Division I career points record in the game at UConn. DeMeo's four-goal performance brought her to 199 career points.
» DeMeo's three goals vs. Fresno State moved her past Descalzo for Bryant's career goals record with 178.
» Senior Lauren Britton passed her older sister Nicole for Bryant's program record with her 172nd career draw control at UConn. The Britton sisters were teammates in 2016 when Nicole set the record.
WE'LL TAKE TWO
Sophomore Natalie Langella has scored two or more goals in seven of her last eight games, highlighted by a career-high five in the win at Stetson. Langella is second on the Bulldogs this season in goals (19) and third in points (22).
HERE TO HELP
Juniors Caitlin Breglia (Long Beach, N.Y.) and Maggie Pressler (Smithfield, R.I.) rank in the top five in the NEC in assists entering conference play. Breglia's 18 assists lead the conference while Pressler's 13 rank fifth.
DRAWING UP A PLAN FOR SUCCESS
Seniors Lauren Britton and Meredith James (Essex Fells, N.J.) have recorded five of the top six single-game draw control performances in Bryant's Division I era over the Bulldogs' last eight contests. Britton tallied 12 vs. Canisius, 10 at Albany and nine against Brown and Jacksonville, while James collected nine against Fresno State. James holds the program's single-game record with 13 last year vs. Niagara.
Bryant's 21 draw controls against Canisius matched the program's D1 single-game best, last reached in last year's win over Sacred Heart.
UP NEXT: LIU BROOKLYN
Bryant returns home for its next four games, beginning with a Sunday contest against LIU Brooklyn. Opening draw between the Bulldogs and Blackbirds is scheduled for 1 p.m. The game can be seen on NEC Front Row and tickets are available HERE.
Season tickets for the 2019 campaign at Beirne Stadium are available by clicking HERE.
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