Last year at this time the USM men’s lacrosse team had mustered only two wins against eight losses. But this year has been a much different story. Led by a senior Preston Gilbert (Saco) and sophomore Tim Bryant (Peterborough, NH), the Huskies have settled to a respectable 5-5 mark on the season following Saturday’s heartbreaking loss to UMass Dartmouth 9-7.
The Huskies have been much improved on the offensive end. And it shows. Through ten games last season, USM had been outscored almost 2-to-1 (102-59). But this year, with the help of Bryant and Gilbert’s prolific scoring, the Huskies have closed that offensive gap to 108-99, a drastic improvement over a year ago.
Gilbert and Bryant have been virtual carbon copies statistically, both posting impressive numbers through the early stages of the season. Gilbert has recorded 25 goals and seven assists, while his sophomore counterpart has tallied an equally impressive 24 goals and seven assists.
Collectively, the tandem has contributed to 63.6% (63-of-99 points) of the Huskies’ goals this season, which means that Bryant and Gilbert alone have produced as much offense in their first ten games as the entire 2008 team.
And some of those points have been crucial.
Most recently, Gilbert netted five goals in an important 14-12-conference win over Western Connecticut. And, earlier in the season, Bryant gave the Huskies an overtime, game-winning goals against New England College in their 9-8 win.
The Huskies, currently 1-2 in Little East Conference action, will need Gilbert and Bryant to continue their offensive fireworks if they hope to make a run into the conference playoffs.