May 01, 2010

McMAHON'S HAT TRICK PACES BULLDOGS AS BRYANT EDGES QUINNIPIAC, 7-6, SATURDAY AFTERNOON

Boxscore

HAMDEN, Conn. – Freshman Peter McMahon (Wilton, Conn.) scored a trio of goals, including the game winner in the waning seconds of the third period, while sophomore Jameson Love (Darien, Conn.) came up with 14 big saves Saturday afternoon to lead the Bryant University men's lacrosse team to a 7-6 topping of future Northeast Conference rival Quinnipiac.

The Bulldogs (11-5) never trailed in the outing, but despite taking an early 3-0 advantage, allowed the Bobcats (7-6) to tie the game twice, both at 4-4 and 5-5. But a Gary Crowley (Scituate, Mass.) goal with 12 seconds to play before halftime would break a 4-4 deadlock and hand the Black and Gold a one-goal lead entering the third quarter.

Out of the break, the teams would open the frame with 11:14 of scoreless play before Quinnipiac's Alex Marotto would re-tie the score at 5-5 with 3:46 on the clock.

But the Bobcats wouldn't keep the momentum for long, as Bryant came surging back, getting a pair of scores from McMahon with under a minute to play.

“Peter has gone just like our offense has this year, with bright days and OK days,” said head coach Mike Pressler. “This was one of the brightest of his freshman year. We ask him to do a lot and there is a lot of pressure on him to produce – that's a lot for any freshman. He's got three years left in a Bulldog uniform, and he's going to be a marquee player for us in the near future.”

With a two-man advantage and 40 seconds on the third-period clock, McMahon took a pass from classmate JK Poirier (Coatesville, Pa.) for a quick shot that gave the Bulldogs a 6-5 edge. Nine more ticks would be all the rookie needed to complete his hat trick and give Bryant back a two-goal lead.

But the goal – the eventual game winner – was created out of the impressive play of fellow rookie Mason Poli (Downingtown, Pa.). The frosh defenseman picked up the ground ball off the faceoff, and with pressure on him, passed it across to McMahon, who was open for the one-timer that would move the score to 7-5.

Quinnipiac would score the lone tally of the fourth quarter, but couldn't find a third equalizer to take the 7-6 loss.

“We had some chances to open the lead in the fourth quarter,” said Pressler. “It was going to be a struggle all day for us to score, and I think a lot of it has to do with us and our own offensive troubles.”

But it looked as though the Bulldogs would cruise early on, as Bryant converted for three goals in the opening 15 minutes of Saturday's contest.

Junior Evan Roberts (West Cornwall, Vt.) gave the visitors their first lead of the day with 12:13 on the first-frame clock, absorbing a hard shove before firing an off-balance shot that found open real estate behind Bobcat goalie Kevin Benzing.

Poirier followed with one of the most impressive scores of the day, picking up the ground ball to the left of the crease just seconds after a McMahon shot missed wide. Poirier took a quick second-chance shot, letting go a low bouncer for the 2-0 edge.

With 3:09 to play, junior Matt Larson (Cheshire, Conn.) would wrap up scoring in the first session with a bullet of a shot, one that ripped through the netting behind Benzing for an unassisted tally and a 3-0 Bulldog advantage.

Quinnipiac cut the score to 3-1 early in the second, but McMahon scored the first of his three goals less than a  minute later with a wrap-around shot to regain a three-goal lead.

“We really had some chances to even extend that lead,” said Pressler. “Then defensively we had some turnovers that led to some failed clears, but the most important thing is that we never let them take the lead.”

But that lapse in Bryant's clearing game allowed for a trio of Bobcat scores in the final four minutes of the first half, evening the score at 4-4.

“We were trying to get out over the top and we just threw it away or overthrew it and turned it over,” said Pressler. “We were taking some chances to score, trying to make chances out of the defensive end, and it backfired on us.”

Crowley's goal with 12 seconds to go in the second quarter sent the Bulldogs into the break with a 5-4 edge, setting up a second-half full of heated play.

The Bobcats outshot the Bulldogs, 33-30, on the day while Benzing made nine stops for the home side. Love finished with 14 stops in net for the Bulldogs.

“Jameson was great between the pipes today,” said Pressler. “He made some big saves and took a couple out of the net I thought. He was certainly spectacular between the pipes and so were all the guys in front of him. But the guys who don't get as much credit as they deserve who played extremely well today are our defensive middies.”

Senior captain Andrew Hennessey (Wading River, N.Y.) played a big role in the Bulldogs' victory, taking 11-of-16 wins at the faceoff X and picking up a pair of ground balls. Love paced the Black and Gold with a team-best six ground balls, while rookie Ben Sternberg (North Kingston, R.I.) forced two caused turnovers. The Bulldogs would edge out the home team in the ground ball game, 31-30.

“This game mirrored so much of our season,” Pressler said. “We dominate the faceoff, we were very ready to go defensively – that proved to be a constant force for us all day. But we continued to do what we've done for 14 of the 16 games we've played, and that's struggle to put the ball in the goal at the offensive end.

“But with 11 wins in just our second season in Division I, the Bulldogs have reached new heights,” Pressler added. “And we still have one to go on Thursday.”

Bryant wraps up its season Thursday, May 6 when it hosts Hobart at Bulldog Stadium for 2010 Senior Day. Game time is 3 p.m.