Bryant Beats Providence To Open Men’s Lacrosse Season

The Bryant University men’s lacrosse team received hat tricks from three different individuals on its way to a 19-7 season-opening victory over in-state rival Providence College on Saturday afternoon at Chapey Field.

The 19 goals are the most by a Bulldog to open a season in DI program history. Bryant has now won back-to-back games and is 9-4 all-time against the Friars.

On Saturday, sophomores Bennett Abladian, Aidan Goltz and Isaiah Davis all scored three times, with Goltz adding an assist for a four-point afternoon. Marc O’Rourke led the way with five points (2g, 3a), while Logan McGovern, Jacob Alexander and Timmy Hackett all had multiple-point efforts.

Alexander also got it done at the X, winning 20-of-29 faceoffs and finishing with 15 ground balls. Luke Caracciolo made 15 saves to earn the win in cage.

Game Information
Bryant 19, Providence 7
Records: Bryant (1-0), Providence (1-1)
Location: Chapey Field (Providence, R.I.)

Coach Pressler’s Comments
Our season opener against our in-state rival PC was a complete team effort on both sides of the ball. We were certainly not pretty at times but our guys competed for the full 60 minutes against a very tough Friar team. In the end, if you can win the middle – win faceoffs and make saves – you will always have a chance to be successful.

Key Moment

Leading 5-3 at the start of the second quarter, Will Ronan scored late in the shot clock and Alexander followed by winning and the faceoff and scoring to make it 7-3. Bryant’s lead never dipped under four the rest of the way.
How it Happened

Providence scored two of the first three goals on Saturday but the Black and Gold responded with the next four to earn a 5-3 lead after one quarter.
O’Rourke tied the game with a bar-down rocket from 10 yards out.
Goltz and Davis then made it 4-2 as they scored back-to-back goals. Goltz’s first came off a diagonal feed from O’Rourke. The pass set Goltz up with an open look and he fired it home.
Davis also took a great feed, this one from McGovern, before dodging to his left and firing one over the right shoulder of the goalie.
Jon Miller set up Bryant’s fifth goal with a big check at midfield. He collected the ground ball and fed McGovern for a goal in transition.

The Bulldogs then opened the game up with five-straight goals to start the second quarter.
Will Ronan tallied his first late in the shot clock and Alexander won the ensuing faceoff and raced down the middle of the field and finished low.
Bennett Abladian was able to pot a rebound goal to make it 8-3, Goltz let go another howitzer to make it 9-3 and Davis scored his second with a snipe from just above goal-line extended.
The Black and Gold then scored the first four goals coming out of halftime. Goltz completed his hat trick, Abladian scooped and scored a rebound and Hackett went end-to-end for a goal. He made a man miss at midfield with a swim move and then fired it home.

Connor Whalen registered his first goal as a Bulldog in the fourth quarter, intercepting a clearing pass from the goalie and scoring.
Stats

Bryant outshot Providence, 57-32.
The Bulldogs won the ground-ball battle, 44-31.
Bryant won 20-of-30 faceoffs.
O’Rourke led all players with five points on two goals and three assists.
Goltz recorded four points with three goals and an assist.
Abladian and Davis each recorded a hat trick.
McGovern (2g, 1a), Alexander (2g, 1a) and Hackett (1g, 2a) all finished with three points.
Alexander won 20-of-29 faceoffs and collected 15 ground balls.
Hackett added five ground balls to his effort.
Brody Rule led Bryant with two caused turnovers.
Caracciolo made 15 saves in goal.
Game Notes

Bryant is now 9-4 against Providence, having won each of the last two meetings.
The 19 goals are the most by the Bulldogs in a season opener in DI program history.
Alexander’s 20 faceoff wins are the second-most in his career. The 15 ground balls are also second-most.
O’Rourke now has 114 goals, 50 assists and 164 career points. He moved into third-place in DI program history in goals and into fifth place in assists.
Hackett matched his career high in points and set a career high in ground balls.
Up Next
The Bulldogs return to the field next Saturday when they travel to Boston to face the Terriers. Faceoff is set for 4:00 p.m.