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.
Saint Joe’s is going into the NEC championship game in emphatic fashion.
The Hawks busted open their semifinal tilt with LIU, setting the program record for goals scored in a 19-11 victory Wednesday at Sweeney Field.
The win extends No. 1-seeded Saint Joe’s winning streak to nine games and is the fourth year the Hawks have been to the NEC Tournament championship game. A victory and NCAA berth has been elusive, though and they’ll have to go through Bryant to get it at 1 p.m. Saturday. Offensively, we shared the ball, dodged with purpose, and shot it pretty well, said head coach Taylor Wray following the win. Early on, we had some opportunities I thought we could have finished to separate in the first half, but I m sure they felt the same way. The final five minutes of the first half was the difference in the game. To go from 6-6 to 10-6 during that span gave us a little breathing room. What I love about our team is that we aren t a one-man show. Everybody contributes in di
All of these teams have tremendous talents that show there are quality players outside of the ACC. Hereâs one player from every team worth watching. Note itâs not necessarily their best player, but someone who over the course of the year or their career has made an impression.
Air Force, Quentin Carlile, Jr., D He has an uncanny ability to knock down passes, and he brings it when the spotlight is brightest like last week vs. Richmond (5GB, 5CT), vs. High Point (3GB, 3CT), or at Duke (5GB, 2CT).
Army, Marcus Hudgins, Jr., D An opposing coach earlier in the year told me, âI knew he was good. I didnât realize he was that good.â He erases top matchups at close, played LSM earlier in his career, and will be one of the top defenders in the country by the time he finishes his four years.
Eight automatic qualifiers are up for grabs over the next week.
With the Patriot League Quarterfinals on Tuesday night, there s no reason to turn away from your laptop or TV for the next six days with the amount of action on much of it staggered across the day so you ll be able to see most finishes.
Here are our picks for conference champions a piece that s routinely become bulletin-board fodder on Championship Saturday.
America East
Terry Foy: UMBC
I’m picking the Retrievers because of a combination of home-field advantage, conference tournament experience, close game experience and the idea that defense wins in May (which, in the shot clock era, I’m not even certain is true any longer).