Bryant does not lose in the NEC championship.
The Bulldogs are 6-for-6 in the title game after knocking off top-seeded Saint Joseph’s, 16-10, Saturday for the league’s AQ to the NCAA Tournament.
It came amid a year of adversity for the Bulldogs. Like most teams in the country, Bryant dealt with COVID protocols and restrictions and the struggles that go along with that. They also had three players go down with ACL tears, another player miss most of the season because of lingering COVID effects, and three separate pauses due to COVID protocols.
It didn’t matter. They’re champs again.
Hobart lacrosse defeats Bryant, 11-10
Kyle Evans covers local high school, college, and professional sports on FingerLakes1.com. Click here to contribute to our Sports Page or connect with Kyle using kyle@fingerlakes1.com.
Hobart College sophomore goalie Kevin Holtby made a career-high 23 saves to lead the Statesmen to an 11-10 Northeast Conference men’s lacrosse win over Bryant University today. Hobart improved to 3-1 overall and 3-1 in the NEC, while the Bulldogs saw their four-game winning streak end, slipping to 5-2, 3-1.
Holtby stood tall in the fourth quarter, making 10 saves, including two in the final minute as Hobart killed off a pair of penalties to preserve the one-goal lead. His 23 stops are the most by a Statesman since Max Silberlicht ’10 recorded 23 saves against Syracuse on March 23, 2010.
Mike Pressler was emotional even after arriving home from the stadium on Saturday.
“The sacrifice you make. All the sacrifices these guys have made all these other teams are doing it too, so we’re no different, but I care about us. What they’ve given up just to get back on the field. To see them rejoice in a big-time quality in-state rival situation. It brought me to my knees,” he said via Zoom, tearing up following Bryant’s gutsy 9-8 win against Providence in Beirne Stadium.
The Bulldogs’ special teams excelled in the tight victory. Luke Caracciolo made 16 saves, Nathan Laliberte won 12-of-17 face-offs and new players stepped up for missing teammates.