April 14, 2007

BRYANT MEN'S LACROSSE DOWNS FRANKLIN PIERCE 27-8

BOXSCORE

SMITHFIELD, R.I.  -  Sophomore Bryan Kaufmann (Putnam Valley, NY) scored four goals - all coming in the first quarter - while Peter Kaspar (Seauket, NY) and Brent Stoothoff (West Islip, NY) also found the back of the net four times as the Bryant University men's lacrosse team rolled to a 27-8 win over visiting Franklin Pierce College Saturday at the Bryant Turf Complex.

A total of 12 players scored at least one goal in the game for the Bulldogs while the 27 goals equals a school record for most goals in a game, tying the 2003 record of 27 scored against Saint Anselm. 

Kaufmann got the Bulldogs off to a good start Saturday against the Ravens, scoring just two minutes into the contest.  The sophomore caused Raven goalkeeper Ben Lek (Gaithersburg, Md.) to turn the ball over in front of his own net while attempting a clear and after picking up the ball a few steps from the goal, one-timed one into the empty net to make it 1-0. 

Less than a minute later, Kaufmann again was the beneficiary of a failed clear attempt by Franklin Pierce, putting a few moves in front of Lek and scoring high over Lek's shoulder to make it 2-0.

Bryant (6-2, 5-0 NE-10), winners of six-straight since opening the year 0-2, led 6-0 before the Ravens finally got on the board with a goal by Nick Cowden (Marblehead, Mass.) with three minutes left in the first.  But two goals by Matt McKeefrey (Melville, NY) and Kevin Hoagland (Glastonbury, Conn.) in the second quarter gave the hosts a commanding 12-2 lead at the half. 

Senior co-captain Bryan Molk (Peabody, Mass.), who was honored prior to the start of the game along with fellow senior Corey MacDougall (Waltham, Mass.) as part of Senior Day festivities, made it 13-2 with a goal to open the third and the Bulldogs emptied the bench for the remainder of the game. 

Cowden finished with three goals for Franklin Pierce which fell to 3-7 and 0-6 in the NE-10.  Michael Willis (Hingham, Mass.) and Ryan Boller (New Canaan, Conn.) had a pair.

Bryant's reschedule game at Merrimack Sunday has been postponed to April 24.  The Bulldogs will next return to action Tuesday at Assumption College (7 pm).