BULLDOGS HOST NAVY SATURDAY AFTERNOON AT HOME
SMITHFIELD, R.I. - The Bryant University women's lacrosse team will host Navy Saturday at noon at the Bryant Turf Complex in search of its first win of the 2012 season, a game that will be the first half of a doubleheader with men.
The Midshipmen (4-1) and the Bulldogs (0-2) last faced off Feb. 25, 2011, and Bryant looks to improve upon last season's 22-7 road loss. Navy has started off the 2012 season in strong fashion and will enter Smithfield with a 4-1 overall record, suffering its only loss of the year in an 11-10 bout against High Point University in the season opener. Since then, the Mids have been perfect and their offense has shined in a quartet of high-scoring wins. In five games this season, Navy has doubled up its opponents in goals scored, 72-36.
Firing up the Mids offense are four players already with double-digit goals on the season and five with double-figure points. Among them are a pair of freshmen in five-game starters Jasmine DePompeo and Loren Generi, who have teamed up for 20 of the team's 72 goals. DePompeo also boasts a team-leading 10 assists with six ground balls while Generi has fired off 19 shots and picked up an impressive 28 draw controls.
Leading the team with 13 goals is junior Kathy Young, who has also picked up 12 ground balls and is second to Generi in draw controls with 19. Sophomore Aimee Gennaro is second on the squad with 12 tallies and has doled out four helpers on the year. Jill Coughlin rounds out Navy's five 10+-point scorers and is another five-game starter for Saturday's visitors.
Between the pipes for the Midshipmen is senior Elaina Ponchione, who has started all five contests and faced 80 shots on the year, allowing only 29 goals for a .463 save percentage. Ponchione has posted an 8.39 goals against average in more than 200 minutes in net.Backing up Ponchione is junior Michelle Verbeeck, who has played in four games while facing 13 shots with five goals allowed.
Bryant will look to bounce back after starting the season 0-2 with a home loss to Holy Cross and an 11-5 road defeat last time out against Central Connecticut to open Northeast Conference action. The Bulldogs have netted just 10 goals through two games this season and will look for a breakout game from their offensive ranks against a tough opponent.
Senior attacker Lauren Sheridan leads that charge with a team-best four goals while recording a side-high 13 shots in two games. Sophomore Haley Bloom, meanwhile, has recorded two points off a goal and an assist — Bryant's only helper of the year so far — and ranks second on the squad with eight shots. Sophomores Lisa Vendel and Katherine Keckeisen have each tallied a pair of markers apiece, while the latter leads the Black and Gold in caused turnovers with three, sharing the distinction with senior goalie Lauren Filippone.
Filippone has been strong in net in her two starts, particularly with her 17-save effort against the Crusaders in the 2012 season opener. The reigning Northeast Conference Goalkeeper of the Year currently sports a 12.50 goals against average while posting a .479 save percentage, playing all 120 minuutes between the pipes.
Following the women's game, the Bryant men's lacrosse squad will round out the afternoon doubleheader with a home tilt against the University of Vermont, slated to begin at 3 p.m.
For continuing coverage of Bryant University women's lacrosse, check back online at www.bryantbulldogs.com and also follow the Bulldogs on Twitter @BryantAthletics.
