THE BASICS:
 
RESULT: Bryant 15, Hartford 10
RECORDS: Hartford (0-2), Bryant (2-2)
LOCATION: Al-Marzook Field at Alumni Stadium (Vestal, N.Y.)
PHOTO GALLERY
 
THE LEAD:
 
The University of Hartford men's lacrosse team was unable to complete the comeback against Bryant, as the Hawks dropped a 15-10 decision in their home opener on Saturday. Hartford turned a seven-goal deficit into one in the third, but the Bulldogs ended the game with a 6-2 run to seal the win.
 
Junior Dylan Jinks, who was one of four Hawks with four points, led Hartford in the losing effort with three goals. Seniors Griffin Feiner (one goal, three assists) and Justin Huggins (two goals, two assists) joined Jinks with four points. Cam Ziegler scored four goals and added one assist for the Bulldogs to lead all scorers with five points.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:
 

• Bryant jumped out to a seven-goal lead with 1:23 left in the first half behind two goals apiece from Kevin Quigley and Ziegler.
• Ending the first with Jinks' second goal with five seconds remaining in the half, Hartford came roaring back with a dominant effort in the third quarter. A 7-of-7 effort on faceoffs from junior Dylan Protesto helped fuel a 5-1 run that pulled the Hawks within two (9-7) at the end of the third. Freshman Alex Smith's first career goal sparked that rally, which featured five different scorers.
• Hartford's scoring barrage continued into the fourth and final quarter, as Rion Davison's second goal of the game at the 12:56 mark made it a one-goal game for the first time since the 3:24 mark of the opening quarter. But Hartford ran out of steam in its comeback bid, as Bryant came alive by scoring six of the game's next seven goals to put the game out of reach.

 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE & NOTES:
 

• Protesto, who collected a game-best seven ground balls, held the upperhand at the X against the No. 4 faceoff specialist in the nation, winning 16-of-23 on the afternoon. The Hawks were 18-of-28 on faceoffs, going 64.3 percent.
• Bryant won a tightly-contested ground ball battle with a 23-21 advantage.
• Bryant also held advantages in shots (37-27) and turnovers, committing four fewer than the Hawks (13-17).

 
NEXT ON TAP:
The Hawks kick off their longest road trip of the season — a four-game stretch — at Fairfield on Tuesday, Feb. 27. Opening faceoff is set for 3 p.m.