Field hockey falls to Maine

DESPITE SECOND HALF GOAL BY BALLANTYNE, BULLDOGS COME UP SHORT

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – The Bryant University field hockey team fell to the University of Maine, 2-1, Sunday afternoon in the second game of their weekend road trip.

Bryant junior Kayleigh Ballantyne (Gorham, Maine) evened the score at the 58:30 mark netting her first goal of 2012, however the Black Bears were able to respond with a goal of their own in the final six minutes of play to notch their third win of the season.

Both teams were held scoreless for the first 27 minutes of play in the final action of the weekend in Orono, Maine. At the 27:47 mark, Maine's Annabelle Hamilton put the Black Bears on the board off of a penalty stroke to score on one of her 10 shots in the game.

Bryant attempted only one shot in the first 35 minutes of play, however their stingy defense held a talented Maine team to only three shots in the first half.

The second half told a different story. The Black Bears attempted 20 shots in the final 35 minutes, however the Bulldogs' defense held Maine scoreless in the half until the final five minutes of play.

The Black and Gold were able to equalize at the 58:30 mark when Ballantyne collected a rebound off of Maine keeper Alicia Frisch to put away her first goal of the season.

Despite a valiant effort by Bryant goalkeeper Megan Hancock (Skowhegan, Maine), Zoe Adkins put away the game winning goal at the 64:50 mark off of a rebound from a missed shot. The score was Adkins second of the year.

The Black Bears outshot the Bulldogs, 23-8. Hancock finished the game with a season-high 11 saves, while Frisch recorded six stops of her own.

The Bulldogs will look to snap their five-game skid when they host Brown on Friday, Sept. 14 (7 p.m.) in their home opener.

For all the latest news on Bryant University field hockey, visit BryantBulldogs.com