SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Following an eight-day layover, the Bryant University women's lacrosse team looks to make it five-straight victories as it starts Northeast Conference play, traveling to Mount St. Mary's for a 4:00 p.m. draw on Friday.

The two-time defending NEC champ Bulldogs (6-3, 0-0 NEC) have had their issues against the Mountaineers (2-8, 0-0) in the series with a 3-3 record. Bryant was defeated, 9-8, in overtime last season at home, but it is 2-1 in Emmitsburg, Md. The Bulldogs won the previous three matchups prior to last year by a combined score of 41-18. Overall, the Black and Gold hold a 34-17 record against conference competition since joining the league in 2010, and are 19-4 when matched up with NEC schools over the last three seasons. 

Senior attack Nicole Britton (Monmouth Beach, N.J.) has been a distributor of the ball in her three career meetings with the Mountaineers by tallying six assists, and sophomore attack Catlin Brown (San Diego, Calif.) netted a goal in last season's contest. Sophomore keeper Samantha Santeramo (Wantagh, N.Y.)made sevens stops as a freshman last season on 16 shots faced.

But the other Bryant contributors who have been successful against the Mount in the past have either graduated or been lost to injury, so it will be the newcomers asked to carry the load on Friday. Frosh midfielder Jess DeMeo (Mount Sinai, N.Y.) was stellar in the Bulldog's 11-9 victory over UMass Lowell on March 30 with four goals. Sophomore mid Meaghan Brennan (Glen Head, N.Y.) tallied two goals in the contest, and freshman middie Jasmine Perkins (West Babylon, N.Y.) netted her second goal of the season.

After opening the season 0-5, the Mountaineers have won two of their last three games, and two of the defeats were by one goal. The Mount, however, have struggled defensively all season, allowing the seventh-most goals per game in the NEC at over 11 per outing. Despite the defensive troubles, senior netminder Steph Rurkowski has done her job this season, as she leads the NEC in saves percentage (49.0) and saves per game (10.2) while sitting 17th and seventh nationally in those two categories. Rurkowski made 12 stops in the Mountaineers victory over the Bulldogs last year.

The Mountaineers cage 8.5 goals per game and hand out 2.6 assists per game, in large part due to the play of senior attack Molly Morris. Morris has 30 points this season to rank fourth in the league on 18 goals and her 12 assists are third most in the conference. Morris is aided by defending NEC Rookie of the Year in sophomore attack Nicole Lantuh, who has tallied 26 points on a team-high 21 scores and five assists. Junior mid Kelly Maloney is the third and final 20+ point scorer with her 21 on 15 goals and six helpers, while Sammie Knapp and Nicole Snyder have registered 16 and 11 goals, respectively.

The Bulldogs will need to give their undivided attention to both Lantuh and Maloney, as the two charted three points each in last year's 9-8 win on two goals and an assist apiece. Knapp has also made an impact in two matchups with the Bulldogs, scoring two goals and dishing out one helper.

First draw on Friday can be seen on NECFrontRow.com and followed along via livestats on MountAthletics.com. 

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