March 22, 2008

#1 LE MOYNE DEFEATS #7 BRYANT IN MEN'S LACROSSE 8-3

box score

Junior Bryan Kaufmann scored two goals against Le Moyne Saturday.  The Bulldogs host AIC Wednesday night at 7 pm. www.dspics.com

SYRACUSE, NY -  Top-ranked Le Moyne erupted for six second half goals to break open a tight first half en route to posting an 8-3 win over seventh-ranked Bryant University in Northeast-10 Conference men's lacrosse action Saturday.  Mike McDonald scored four goals while Nick Gatto added three for the Dolphins who remain undefeated at 4-0 on the season.  Bryant was led by Bryan Kaufmann's (Putnam Valley, NY) two goals as the Bulldogs drop to 3-3 overall. 

In a rematch of last year's Northeast-10 Conference championship game won by Le Moyne, the Dolphins pulled away after a tight first half between the two teams expected to compete for the conference title once again in 2008. 

Kaufmann helped get Bryant (3-3, 0-1 NE-10) off to a good start with an even-strength goal just under five minutes into the game.  Teammate Kevin Hoagland (Glastonbury, CT) picked up the assist.  Le Moyne (4-0, 1-0 NE-10) would answer just before the end of the opening quarter as Keith Vetter helped set up McDonald with his first of the game to tie it at 1-1 with 57 seconds left.  Le Moyne's Brian Cost would put the hosts up 2-1 with a goal 40 seconds in to the second quarter with Vetter again picking up the assist.

It would be the only scoring of the first half as both teams headed to the locker room with Le Moyne on top 2-1.  But in the second, the Dolphins scored three unanswered goals in the third to race out in front, 5-1 before Bryant freshman Evan Roberts (West Cornwall, VT) scored an unassisted goal with 19 seconds left in the third to make it 5-2. 

Back to back goals by Gatto to start the fourth helped push the lead to 7-2 before Kaufmann notched his second of the game for Bryant on an man-up situation with 8:41 left.  Gatto would close out the afternoon with his third goal of the second half with a minute left.

Le Moyne out-shot Bryant 29 to 14 in the game while Bryant's Michael Kennedy (Port Jefferson Station, NY) finished with 11 saves in net for the Bulldogs.

Bryant will return home for the first time in a month this Wednesday hosting American International at the Turf Field Complex at 7 p.m. Le Moyne will host Merrimack next Saturday at 1 p.m.