Men's Lacrosse Travels Rhode Island to Take on Bryant in Non-Conference Action

THE FACE OFF
 

1. The Game
#19/20 UAlbany visits Bryant for the fifth game of the 2013 season. The Great Danes are 3-2 after a commanding 12-11 win over Canisius last Saturday. The Bulldogs are 0-5, after losing to #14 Drexel last week.

2. Scouting UAlbany
The Great Danes, who were chosen first in the America East preseason poll, re-entered both the USILA Coaches’ Poll (#19) and the Nike/Inside Lacrosse Media Poll (#20), released this past Monday, after defeating Canisius, 12-11, last Saturday.
The Great Danes debuted their revamped lineup for 2013 in a 16-15 double overtime win at Syracuse, with the entire Thompson Trio on attack. Sophomore Lyle, who moved up to the front line to join his brother, Miles, and cousin, Ty, has been named the America East Conference Player of the Week twice, including this past Monday after racking up 12 points on five goals and seven assists, while also picking up seven ground balls. Lyle made up for the absence of Miles - who has missed the last two games with an injury - by scoring five goals and handing out three assists in the win over UMass. Lyle is currently leading the nation in points per game with 7.00.
Freshman John Maloney saw his first playing time of the season against the Minutemen, and made good use of it, recording his first collegiate goal, and adding two more for good measure to complete a hat trick. He then scored two more goals against Canisius, giving him five points in his first two collegiate games.
The Great Danes are ranked among the NCAA’s top offensive teams, coming in third in scoring offense, third in assists per game, fourth in points per game, and are the ninth most accurate team in the country when it comes to shot percentage.

3. Scouting Bryant
The Bulldogs (0-5) enter the contest looking to change the tide and put a stop to their early season scoring woes, but will have to do so against one of the most potent offenses in the nation in order to get the win at home. Paced by eight goals and six assists from junior Alex Zomerfeld, Bryant has yet to see its offensive ranks near their true potential, averaging just 7.4 goals and 12.4 points per game so far this year. Shane Morrell boasts five goals and two assists, along with longstick midfielder Mason Poli, who has seven points (five goals) in 2013 despite missing Bryant’s last contest on the road at Drexel.

4. Tewaarton Watch List
The Three Musketeers of the Thompson Trio have all been named to the 2013 Tewaarton Watch List, as announced by the organization on Friday morning. While among a group of teams such as Maryland, North Carolina & Duke with three players on the first watch list, UAlbany’s Thompsons are the only related group of players to make an appearance.