ALBANY, N.Y. – The University at Albany women’s lacrosse team plays its second game in three days Saturday when it visits Bryant for a 1 p.m. match in Smithfield, R.I.
The Great Danes will be on the road for the third consecutive game to start the season before Wednesday’s home-opener against Dartmouth.
UAlbany is coming off a 19-12 loss at No. 4/5 Syracuse on Thursday. Facing one of the nation’s most high-powered offenses, the Great Danes outscored the Orange, 10-8, in the second half.
Byrant, the preseason pick to win the Northeast Conference, will be playing its first regular-season game Saturday.
UAlbany has won both of the previous meetings between the programs. The most recent was a 20-13 victory at Bryant to open the 2014 season. The Great Danes also won 15-4 in 2013.
FOLLOW THE GAME
Broadcast: NEC Front Row
Live stats: BryantBulldogs.com
Twitter: @UAlbanyWLax
NEWS AND NOTES
Zapolski enjoys strong start to career
Freshman Kyla Zapolski is the Great Danes’ second-leading scorer with four goals in three games. The Bayport, N.Y., native is coming off an outstanding performance at Syracuse, where she recorded a hat trick and eight draw controls.
Zapolski is one of 20 underclassmen (out of 24 student-athletes) on the Great Danes’ roster. Fourteen of the Great Danes’ 22 goals this season have been scored by freshmen or sophomores.
Powlin leads the way
Emma Powlin, one of only three seniors on UAlbany’s roster, scored four goals against Syracuse, raising her season total to a team-high six.
Before the season, Powlin had earned a place on the Inside Lacrosse Preseason DI Media All-America Honorable Mention list.
Her 58 career assists has her tied for eighth place on the program’s all-time list with Rachel Bowles (2012-16).
Another homecoming for Davos
UAlbany interim head coach Jessica Davos was the head coach at Bryant for one season in 2008, leading the Bulldogs to a 10-8 record (7-3 NEC).
Against Syracuse, Davos was revisiting her alma mater, for whom she played between 1999-2002, helping lead the Orange to three NCAA Tournament appearances.
Scouting Bryant
The Bulldogs, unanimous preseason favorites in the NEC Coaches’ Poll, have won three of the league’s past four championships, including in 2017.
Bryant returns its top three scorers from last season. Among the Bulldogs' returnees are Jess DeMeo, who was the NEC Offensive Player of the Year in 2017, and goalkeeper Samantha Santeramo, who was No. 10 nationally last year with an 8.91 goals-against average.
