Bryant Beats PC for Ocean State Cup in Lacrosse

PC news release…

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – The Providence College men’s lacrosse team fell to intra-state rival Bryant University, 7-5, on March 24 in Smithfield, R.I.  Robert Sheehan (Darnestown, Md.) paced the Friar effort with two goals, while Will Mazzone (Stony Brook, N.Y.) chipped in one goal and one assist.

The Friars took a 1-0 lead with 10:12 remaining in the first quarter as Keenan Assaraf (Rancho Santa Fe, Calif.) found the back of the net off a feed from Michael Perettine (Farmingdale, N.Y.).  Bryant scored back-to-back goals at 7:39 and 6:15 to close the first quarter with a 2-1 lead.  Cam Ziegler struck first, unassisted, while Shane Morrell notched the go-ahead goal, assisted by Ryan Sharpe.

Nolan Fillet (Rockville, Md.) notched his fifth goal of the season with 8:42 remaining in the second quarter to tie the game, 2-2.    Greg FitzMaurice (Huntington, N.Y.) was credited with the assist.  Bryant answered with three-straight goals in a span of 1:59 to take a 5-2 lead.  Collins Gantz started the scoring at 5:18, unassisted.  Tucker James followed with back-to-back goals at 3:35 and 3:19 to gain the three-goal advantage. 

Sheehan stopped the Bulldog’s run with 53-seconds left on the clock.  It marked his second goal of the season and was assisted by Mazzone.  Sheehan’s tally helped the Friars close the gap to just two goals, and trailed 5-3 at halftime.

The Bulldogs pulled away in the third quarter, with goals from Ziegler and Sharpe at 13:29 and 5:08, to give Bryant a 7-3 lead.  The Friars were held scoreless in the quarter and faced a four-goal deficit heading into the final 15 minutes of action.

Providence mounted a comeback in the fourth quarter with unassisted goals from Sheehan (6:59) and Mazzone (00:53), but the rally fell short.  Mazzone leads the Friars with 21 points on 12 goals and nine assists this season through eight games.

Bryant took advantage of extra possessions during the game, having earned victories in 13-of-16 face-off opportunities.  The Bulldogs also held a 41-16 edge in ground balls.

Peter Badgley (Summit, N.J.) played all 60 minutes in goal for Providence and recorded nine saves.  Gunnar Waldt earned the win for Bryant with 15 saves.

The Friars open BIG EAST Conference play on Saturday, March 28 against St. John’s.  The game will be broadcast live on ESPN3 and is scheduled to begin at 1:00 p.m.