MEN'S LACROSSE NOTEBOOK
 
The UVM men's lacrosse team is back home for the first time in three weeks to take on its second straight Rhode Island opponent in Bryant on Saturday morning.
 
Opening faceoff between the Cats and Bulldogs is slated for 11 a.m. on AmericaEast.TV.
 
RELATED LINKS
AmericaEast.TV | Live Stats
 
LAST TIME OUT
The Catamounts dug a 5-1 hole at the end of the first quarter against Brown and their fourth-quarter comeback fell just short in a 12-11 loss to the Bears last weekend. Thomas McConvey picked up his first hat trick of the season while David Closterman dished out four assists in the defeat. The Cats outscored Brown 10-7 through the final three quarters in what would be their second one-goal loss of the season.
 
VETERANS LEAD THE WAY
Liam Limoges and David Closterman have combined for 23 points this season as both have double digit point totals through the season's first four games. Limoges leads the team in goals with nine while Closterman paces the team with seven assists.
 
BURKE AT THE DOT
Tommy Burke has picked up where he left off last season and currently ranks 11th in the NCAA in faceoff win percentage at 62.3%. Vermont's single season record holder for faceoff wins, faceoff win percentage and ground balls also ranks 21^st in ground balls per game (7.00).
 
SCOUTING THE BULLDOGS
Bryant enters this weekend's matchup with a 2-2 overall record after a midweek win (16-12) over Bellarmine on Tuesday. Marc O'Rourke – a preseason All-American – leads the Bulldogs in scoring with 13 goals and six assists while three others have posted double-digit points so far this season. Luke Caracciolo has started all four games in cage and enters the weekend with a 10.86 goals against average. Jacob Alexander is just above 50% at the faceoff dot while the Bulldog ride ranks seventh in the country holding opponents to just a 75% clear percentage.
 
INSIDE THE SERIES
Saturday's meeting will be just the sixth all-time between Vermont and Bryant. The two teams met in last year's season opener with the Bulldogs pulling out a 15-12 win in the rain down in Smithfield, R.I. UVM won the last meeting to be played in Burlington – a 6-5 overtime win in 2013 – but Bryant holds a 3-2 edge in the all-time series.