SMITHFIELD, R.I. – The Bryant University women's lacrosse team puts its four-game win streak and perfect Northeast Conference record on the line Friday, traveling to New Britain, Conn., for a 4 p.m. faceoff against Central Connecticut State University.
The Blue Devils (5-8, 2-2 NEC) are coming off a double-overtime loss at the hands of Robert Morris Sunday afternoon, just two days after the Bulldogs (10-3, 4-0) handed the Colonials their first league defeat, 17-9, Friday in Smithfield. Bryant turned around two days later for a 20-7 victory over Saint Francis U. and have yet to let up double-figure scores to an NEC opponent this spring.
With the victories, the Bulldogs have now reached their 10th win for the second-straight season under head coach Jill DePetris-Batcheller and have started their conference campaign with a 4-0 mark for the first time in the program's Division I history.
Much of that success can be attributed to a strong senior class that includes four of the team's top five point getters as well as the squad's starter between the pipes. Up front, senior attack Haley Bloom (Hauppauge, N.Y.) has led the way with 39 points coming off a team-leading 16 assists with 23 goals of her own, while linemate Olivia McCarthy (Sea Girt, N.J.) is fifth on the team scoring charts with 19 points (12g, 7a). Completing the attack trio is sophomore Lauren Descalzo (Hauppauge, N.Y.), who paces both Bryant and the NEC in markers with 34, adding a pair of assists on the 2014 season.
Out of the midfield ranks comes two of the Bulldogs' most potent weapons in senior leading scorer Lisa Vendel (Sandy Hook, Conn.) and reigning NEC Player of the Week Kimberley Sniffen (Redding, Conn.). Vendel's 40 points are a team best and come behind 33 tallies and seven assists. One of the league's top two-way players, Vendel also leads the team in ground balls (30) and is second in both draw controls (29) and caused turnovers (14). Both Vendel and Sniffen have a trio of game winners in 2014.
Within the Bryant roster resides three of the NEC's top-10 leaders in goals (Descalzo, first; Vendel, fourth; Sniffen, eighth) and points (Vendel, fourth; Bloom, fifth; Descalzo, seventh) while also boasting the league's top-rated scoring offense at 12.46 goals per game.
Between the pipes, senior Brianna Watt (Babylon, N.Y.) has been among the toughest goalies to get past this season, with a .438 save percentage ranked second in the NEC and 7.38 saves per game that are good for 37th nationally.
Central Connecticut will respond with an offense that averages just over 9.5 goals per outing and is led by 39-point scorer Amanda Toke. The senior midfielder paces the Blue Devils in goals (28), assists (11) and points (39) and is second on the squad in both draw controls (35) and caused turnovers (15).
Behind her is sophomore midfielder Falynn McCartney, who has 30 points off 23 goals and seven helpers and leads the team with 47 draw control wins, good for second on the league circuit.
In goal, CCSU has turned to junior Morgan Tullar, who has recorded a 13.33 goals against average and .399 save percentage in 13 games this season. Tullar has 30 ground balls with six caused turnovers.
The Bulldogs are 4-2 all-time against the Blue Devils, including an 11-10 victory in the 2013 Northeast Conference Tournament Semifinals. Friday's matchup between the Bulldogs and the Blue Devils can be seen live and free of charge at NECFrontRow.com.
