Bulldogs Roll to NEC Semifinal Win Over LIU

SMITHFIELD, R.I.- The Bryant women's lacrosse team dominated from the opening draw en route to an NEC semifinal victory over LIU on Thursday at Beirne Stadium. Kenna Kaut scored five goals and Cassidy Burns dished eight assists as the Bulldogs clinched their seventh NEC finals appearance. The win was also the 200th in program history.

Game Info

Bryant 20, Long Island 6

Records: BRY (12-4, 7-1 NEC), LIU (6-11, 5-3 NEC)

Location: Beirne Stadium

How it Happened

Q1: The Bulldogs shut out the Sharks 6-0 in the opening quarter, outshooting LIU 14-2. Bryant scored five goals in the first five minutes of play, including three by Kaut. Alexa Weber, Skylar Simmonds, and Emily Oliver also scored, while Cassidy Burns had three assists.

Q2: Bryant extended their game-opening run to eight with a pair of goals by Skylar Simmonds to start the second. LIU was able to find the net three times in the quarter, but two more goals by Kaut led the Bulldogs to their second straight six goal period and a nine goal lead at the half.

Q3: LIU closed the gap to seven with a pair of goals to start the third, but a 3-0 run courtesy of Simmonds, Weber, and Chamberlaine Bell pushed Bryant's lead up to ten at the end of the quarter. The Bulldogs dominated the draws in the third, winning all four that were taken.

Q4: LIU scored the first goal of the fourth, but Bryant took control from there on, scoring the final five goals. Burns, Oliver, Peyton Woodward, Amelia Piercy, and Hanna Kumpf all scored for the Bulldogs, who shut out the Sharks on the draws for the second straight period.

Bulldog Notes and Notables

• Cassidy Burns set a new career high with eight assists, and tied a season and career high with nine total points. She now has 60 assists on the season and 97 for her career.

• Kenna Kaut scored five goals for the fourth time this season, tying her career high. She's extended her streak of multiple goals in every game this season and now has a total of 56 scores.

• Skylar Simmonds recorded her sixth hat trick with her four goal performance. She and Kaut combined for at least seven goals for the seventh time this season.

• Bryant won 22 of 24 draw controls in the game, led by Emily Diaz's 11. It is the seventh time this year they've won twenty draws in a game, and the sixth time Diaz has reached double digits.

• The Bulldogs caused ten of LIU's 19 turnovers, the fourth time this season they caused at least ten in a game. Emma Coleman led the way with three CT's.

• Bryant eclipsed the twenty goal mark for the sixth time this season and fifth against NEC opponents. Their 34 total points were two shy of the season high.

Bryant will take on Mount St. Mary's in the NEC Championship on Saturday at 1:00 pm. The Bulldogs will take on the defending champion Mountaineers as they look for their fourth NEC tournament title and NCAA tournament berth.