March  30, 2007

BATTLE OF TWO CONFERENCE UNBEATENS SATURDAY AS MEN'S LACROSSE HOSTS SAINT MICHAEL'S AT 1 P.M.

Michael Kennedy, this week's NE-10 Goalie of the Week, will lead the Bulldogs Saturday against Saint Michael's (1 p.m.) at the Bryant Turf Field. www.dspics.com

SMITHFIELD, RI - The Bryant University men's lacrosse team will host Saint Michael's College this Saturday afternoon at the Bryant Turf Field Complex starting at 1 p.m. The Bulldogs, while riding high after last week's win over top-ranked Le Moyne, have had a full week to focus its attention on a very tough Saint Michael's squad that brings a four-game win streak into Saturday's encounter and sit atop the conference standings at 3-0. 

Thanks to the win over the Dolphins, a game that saw sophomore Kevin Hoagland (Glastonbury, Conn.) net five tallies including one during a man-down situation as well as the game-winner in overtime, the Bulldogs moved up a few notches in this week's national polls.  USILA has the Bulldogs ranked No. 6, up from No. 9 last week while Inside Lacrosse places the Bulldogs at No. 5 in its power poll this week. 

"We cannot overstate how big the win over Le Moyne was for Bryant -- and DII lacrosse," was the commentary by Inside Lacrosse showing just how big the win was for the Bryant program.  Le Moyne remains No. 1 by IL (No. 2 by USILA), a sign of great respect for how well Bryant played in the game as Le Moyne is certainly one of the best teams in the country and will be tough to top come playoff time. 

But that is all in the past as Bryant looks to keep its current win streak alive.  The Bulldogs come into Saturday's game winners of three in-a-row after starting the season 0-2.  Hoagland, this week's NE-10 and National Player of the Week, leads the Bulldogs with 14 goals while teammate Bryan Kaufmann (Putnam, NY) has nine goals and seven assists for a team-best 16 points. 

Classmate Jim Long (Durham, NH) also has nine goals on the season.  Goalie Michael Kennedy (Port Jefferson Station, NY), this week's Northeast-10 Conference Goalkeeper of the Week (his second honor this season) brings an 8.82 goals against average into Saturday's game.  

At 2-0 in the NE-10, the Bulldogs find themselves in a three-way tie for first with Southern NH 1-0 and the Purple Knights are off to a 3-0 start in league play this year. The Purple Knights, winners of four straight games, are coming off a 15-11 win over Franklin Pierce Wednesday in Rindge, NH. 

Greg Lazarus and Mark Agostinelli have provided a one-two punch offensive with 15 and 14 goals respectively.  Goalie Jeff Hannon has a stingy 7.80 goals against average.  The two losses this season for Saint Michael's came in the opening week as the Purple Knights dropped an 8-6 decision to Molloy and fell to New York Tech by a goal, 10-9.

Following Saturday's game, the Bulldogs will hit the road for a conference game at Merrimack College next Saturday.