SMITHFIELD, R.I. – The Bryant University men's lacrosse team will close out the regular season on Saturday when it travels to UMass Lowell for a Saturday afternoon showdown with the River Hawks. Face-off is set for 12:00 p.m.
The Particulars
Opponent: UMass Lowell
Location: Cushing Field (Lowell, Mass.)
Date and Time: Saturday, Apr. 26– 12:00 p.m.
Watch: ESPN+
Live Stats: Sidearm
Game Notes: Bryant | UMass Lowell
Social Media: Facebook |
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Instagram | #GoBryant | #AEMLax
THE SERIES
- Saturday's game marks the third time the Bulldogs and River Hawks have faced off.
- Last time out, the Bulldogs came away with a 17-2 victory on a rainy Smithfield Saturday.
- The Bulldogs have outscored the River Hawks 37-6 in the first two games of their series history.
- The Black and Gold came away with a 20-4 win in the teams' first meeting back in 2023.
THE DAWGS ARE GOING DANCING
- Last Saturday's Senior Day victory over Binghamton secured the Bulldogs a spot in the America East Conference Tournament.
- Bryant returns to the league playoffs for the first time since 2023 and will aim to improve upon their seeding position on Saturday.
- The Black and Gold have a guaranteed top two seed regardless of Saturday's game.
ALEXANDER NAMED AE WEEK 11 DPOW
- Bryant University men's lacrosse graduate LSM Tanner Alexander was named the America East Defensive Player of the Week on Monday, April 21st.
- Alexander put together an impressive outing against the Binghamton Bearcats last Saturday, anchoring the defense and leading Bryant to a Senior Day victory. Alexander led non-face-off specialists with seven ground balls and also caused two turnovers. This is Alexander's first America East honor this season
- Alexander is the second player to be named DPOW this season. Drew Lucas last took home the honor on Apr. 7.
X MARKS THE SPOT
- Face-off specialist JJ Murphy played a crucial role in the Black and Gold's win over Binghamton. Murphy won 20-of-27 draws and scooped 11 ground balls, against the Bearcats.
- With 1:17 remaining in the contest, Murphy came up clutch with a victory at the face-off X and allowed the Bulldogs to run out the clock and preserve their victory.
- Saturday's game marked the second time this season Murphy has won 20 or more draws at X. The last time came during the Black and Gold's come-from-behind victory over UAlbany where he won 22-of-25 draws.
- Murphy has stepped into a larger role with the Bulldogs following the graduation of Nathan Laliberte and Jacob Alexander in 2024. This season Murphy is 18th in the nation and second in the America East in ground balls per game (6.08). Murphy has 75 GB's this year.
- Murphy is also 21st in the NCAA and third in the conference in face-off win percentage. (0.561).
OFFENSIVE FIREPOWER
- Dawson Rielly is 24th in the NCAA and leads the America East in goals per game (2.75). Rielly has 33 goals this season.
- Rielly is also tied for eighth in the nation in individual man-up goals with six so far this season.
- Brian Russell is 27th in the nation and second in the AE in assists per game (1.92). Russell has 23 assists this season.
- The Bulldogs are 15th in the nation and lead the league assists per game (7.83).
- The Dawgs are 16th in the NCAA and lead the league in scoring margin (2.75).
- The Bulldogs are 17th in the nation and lead the conference in scoring offense as a team (12.58 goals per game).
- Bryant is 14th in the NCAA and second in the AE in shot percentage (0.311).
DEFENSIVE DAWGS
- Drew Lucas is 20th in the NCAA and third in the AE in CT's/Game (1.75). Lucas has 21 CT's this year.
- After recording two caused turnovers against Binghamton, Lucas is now only four caused turnovers away from tying the Division I program record of 85 (Matt Murnane).
- Einarson leads the America East and is 31st overall in save percentage (0.529). Einarson has made 129 saves this season.
- Scott Einarson is 23rd in the country and second in the AE in GAA (9.95).
- Bryant is seventh in the nation and leads the AE in caused turnovers per game (10.25).
- The Black and Gold are 11th in the nation and are second in the league in clearing percentage (0.881).
- Bryant is 13th in the country and led the AE in GB's/Game (34.25).
- The Black and Gold are 22nd in the NCAA and are second in the league in scoring defense, allowing 9.83 goals per game.
SCOUTING THE RIVER HAWKS
- The River Hawks enter Saturday with a 1-4 record in America East play and are 4-8 overall. They last fell to Vermont by a score of 17-9 up in Burlington.
- Danny Burke leads the team on offense with 28 points (15g, 13a).
- Johnny Soi is Lowell's leading goal scorer, netting 19 on the year.
- Justin Alexander has been the primary faceoff for UML, going 128-of-235 at the face-off X and scooping 72 ground balls.
- Alexander is the younger brother of former Bryant face-off specialist Jacob Alexander.
- The two brothers had the opportunity to face-off against each other once at the college ranks, during the Bulldogs 2024 victory. Justin would come away with the face-off win over his older brother.
- Jack Jimenez and Josh Adey are the anchors of Lowell's defensive unit. Jimenez leads the River Hawks with nine caused turnovers and has 20 ground balls. Adey has tallied seven CT's and has scooped 22 GB's.
- AJ True has been the primary goalie for UML this season, appearing in 11 games and starting 10.
- This season he has recorded 127 saves and has a 12.68 GAA.
- Carter O'Brien started the other two contests for Lowell and has posted 22 saves with a 12.88 GAA.
- The River Hawks are coached by Drew Kelleher, who is in his third season at the helm.
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