It was a back-and-forth affair when Bryant took on Holy Cross in early March.

While the Bulldogs led by three in the first quarter, the Crusaders quickly erased it. Down by two at multiple points during the matchup’s last three quarters, Bryant struggled to get the game back under control.

In these times of trouble, sophomore attacker Kenna Kaut thrived. She powered the Bulldogs to their early lead, scoring twice in the first quarter, then spent the rest of the game playing catch-up. In the nail-biter final quarter, she chipped in an assist and a goal to lead the Bulldogs to a narrow 15-14 win.

Some teams or players might fold in such competitive conditions.

Kaut, however, preferred the challenge.

“That type of an environment is more ideal than beating a team by 10 goals each game,” Kaut said. “That game was super fun and very competitive.”

Kaut’s ability to find the net no matter the situation has been key for Bryant this season. Just a sophomore, Kaut leads the team with 42 goals and ranks third in assists and draw controls. Kaut is also tied for ninth nationally in goals per game. Ascending the national rankings has never been a goal of hers, she said, but now she wants to do everything she can to ensure she remains among the best of the best.

As a freshman, Kaut saw playing time in nine of Bryant’s 13 matchups and started six games. The summer after her freshman year, she stuck to the team’s workout packet and did her best to pick up her stick every day. She’d shoot around with her brothers and dad — all lacrosse players themselves — and listen to their advice.

The result has been a breakout campaign that has powered Bryant’s attack to new heights. Powered by Kaut’s efforts, the Bulldogs rank among the top 10 scoring offenses in the country and lead the NEC with a perfect 6-0 record in conference play.

This success has also stemmed from a team-wide focus on honing offensive skills. Coach Brianna Roche said she wants all players to be able to contribute on attack, regardless of whether they typically play the position. She’s worked to build the team’s offensive mindset through working on skills like dodging, stick-work shooting and playing off-ball. Eighteen of Bryant’s 29 players have scored this season.

A “first seven over” mentality has given more players the opportunity to score, too, Roche said. Whoever crosses the restraining line first will play on attack, no matter if that’s their typical role. This led to one of Roche’s highlights of the season, when freshman defender Jessica Colalillo scored out of transition against St. Francis.

“That’s what we’ve been preaching and she was able to do it,” Roche said. “She was able to listen to our offensive philosophy and execute it. That was a favorite moment of mine because it really embodied what we’re trying to do on the field.”

The Bulldogs last won the NEC and qualified for the NCAA tournament in 2017, although they have had several winning seasons since. Roche said this team’s culture has set it apart, crediting previous players for their hard work and effort in building the foundation for it.

“Being able to create a positive team culture [and] an environment of both positivity and accountability has been really important for us,” Roche said. “[It] has allowed us to succeed and put us in a position to compete at a higher level.”

NUMBERS OF NOTE

6

When Georgetown took on No. 10 Denver last Friday, the matchup turned into a close defensive battle. Although the Hoyas fell 14-12, they put up a strong fight against their ranked Big East foe. Junior goalkeeper Emily Gaven starred for Georgetown, recording 10 saves, and senior defender Olivia Buckman anchored the unit with six caused turnovers. Buckman’s six mark a new single game career-high and played a key role in keeping the Hoyas in the matchup.

401

Loyola easily dismantled Bucknell on Wednesday, defeating the Bison 21-2 to secure a Patriot League victory. It proved to be a big day for the Greyhounds’ graduate attacker Livy Rosenzweig, who became just the sixth player in NCAA history to eclipse 400 points. Rosenzweig led all players with eight points, notching two goals and six assists, ending the day with a total of 401 career points.

1-1

UConn took down Yale 20-14 on Wednesday, winning the honor of being the top team in Connecticut. The Huskies’ offense starred, led by seven points each from fifth year midfielder Sydney Watson, senior attacker Grace Coon and senior attacker Lia LaPrise. The programs had only faced each other once before, which Yale won 17-11 back in April 2019. Wednesday’s victory marked the Huskies’ first ever over the Bulldogs, evening the series at 1-1.

262

Syracuse bettered their record to 13-3 on Tuesday in an 18-11 victory over Albany. Graduate attacker Emily Hawryschuk made history for the Orange, extending her number of career goals to 262. This broke Syracuse’s previous record of 260 held by coach Kayla Treanor and cemented Hawryschuk’s place in the program’s record books.