December 14, 2007

SIX BULLDOGS NAMED INSIDE LACROSSE-FACE OFF PRESEASON ALL-AMERICAN

SMITHFIELD, RI - Bryant University placed six men's lacrosse players on the 2008 Inside Lacrosse / Face-Off Preseason All-America team.  Senior goalie Michael Kennedy was named First Team Preseason All-America with Bryan Kaufmann and Corey MacDougall earning Second Team Preseason Honors.  Kevin Hoagland, Jim Long, and Matt Murnane round out the preseason team with Honorable Mention recognition.

Bryant, 11-4 last season and ranked seventh in the Face-Off Yearbook Preseason Top-10 poll for 2008, is coming off its most successful season under coach Mike Pressler.  The Bulldogs posted a perfect 9-0 record in capturing the program's first Northeast-10 Conference title and just missed out on earning a spot in the NCAA Division II Championship.

Kennedy helped backbone a tough Bulldog defensive unit last year, posting a 7.69 goals against average.  The senior started in 14 of 15 games last spring, making 155 saves for a .585 save percentage.  MacDougall and Murnane helped form a formidable defensive unit in front of Kennedy and will be looked upon to lead the way again in '08.  Both started all 15 games with Murnane tallying 61 ground balls (plus one assist) and MacDougall adding 50 ground balls.

Offensively, there may not have been a more potent one-two punch in Kaufmann and Hoagland in the conference.  Kaufmann scored a team-best 44 goals while adding 20 assists for 64 points. Twelve of his goals were in man-up situations while two were game-winners.  Hoagland was just as deadly, scoring 40 goals and adding 10 assists and also adding two game-winners.  Long had a breakout sophomore campaign in '07, tallying 17 goals and 12 assists as a midfielder.

Bryant will open the season hosting Adelphi on Saturday, February 23 at the Bryant Turf Complex.

2008 Inside Lacrosse / Face-Off Preseason All-Americans

First Team

G - Michael Kennedy, Sr., Port Jefferson Station, NY

Second Team

A - Bryan Kaufmann, Jr., Putnam Valley, NY

D - Corey MacDougall, Waltham, MA

Honorable Mention

A - Kevin Hoagland, Jr., Glastonbury, CT

M - Jim Long, Jr., Durham, NH

D - Matt Murnane, So., Rockville Centre, NY