O'Connor, Schucker lead Bulldogs to win at Iona Sunday

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Thanks to the first-career goals for freshman Kristen O'Connor (Beverly, Mass.) and junior Sarah Schucker (Nanuet, N.Y.), the Bryant University women's soccer team took down Iona, 2-1, Sunday afternoon in New Rochelle, N.Y.

After an early score by the Gaels (3-3), the Bulldogs (2-4) responded with two-straight goals to split the weekend and more importantly snap a three game losing streak.

"It was a good win despite the fact that we did not play extremely well," said Bryant head coach Chris Flint. "It was a ragged game, with some questionable calls but it feels great to win a close game and believe and understand that we can get it done."

The first big scoring chance of the match came at the 15:41 mark when Iona was awarded a penalty kick off a Bryant foul, however the early opportunity was thwarted by sophomore Kaylan Conrad's (Avon, Conn.) third of four saves as the Bryant GK continued her tremendous play between the pipes.

"Kaylan [Conrad] continued to play outstanding," added Flint. "Stopping the PK early, otherwise it would have been 1-0 a lot earlier."

Nearly 25 minutes of scoreless play elapsed before Iona's Charlotte Stuart scored the first marker of the contest and her third of the season on a cross from Natalie Murphy to the put the Gaels up, 1-0, in the 25th minute. Just over two minutes later, the Bulldogs found the equalizer on a connection between O'Connor and junior defender Shea Williams (Londonderry, N.H.) for the freshman's first career tally.

The two teams continued to battle, but it was Schucker who put together a beautiful run on her own to put away the game-winner from inside five yards to the far post in the 74th minute to propel the Black and Gold to their second win of the 2014 season.

"It's rewarding to win a game like that," stated Flint. "But now we need to move on and focus on New Hampshire."

The Bulldogs will visit UNH for another primetime contest under the lights when they battle the Wildcats Thursday at 7 p.m.

For all the latest news on the Bryant University women's soccer team, visit BryantBulldogs.com.