Sanders scores twice, but Bulldogs fall to N. Colorado, 3-2, in double OT

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Despite a pair of tallies from senior captain Suzanne Sanders (West Chester, Pa.), the Bryant University women's soccer team fell to Northern Colorado, 3-2, Sunday evening in double overtime in Greeley, Colo.

The Bulldogs (2-8), who saw what they though was the game-winning goal disallowed early in the second overtime period due to an offside call, wrap up their Colorado road trip with a pair of tough losses to quality teams.

"The result, again, is just very frustrating," said Bryant head coach Chris Flint. "We didn't play well in the first half and unfortunately they had a lot of corners and they executed them well with two resulting in goals."

After Adrienne Jordan netted the equalizer in the 84th minute to send the match into overtime, Northern Colorado's Paige Morris headed in the game-winner off a corner kick from Rebecca Lancia with just over a minute to play in the second overtime period to secure a 3-2 comeback win for the Bears.

"The game was very feisty, with multiple yellow cards," added Flint. "But the play really changed for us when we dropped Katy Biagi (Natick, Mass.) into a holding midfield position. She won us a lot of balls and helped swing the momentum in our favor."

After a scoreless first half, Bryant wasted little time getting things going in the second frame when Sanders put away her first marker of the contest in the 49th minute off an assist from freshman forwards Haley Reddish (Natick, Mass.).

The Bulldogs held the 1-0 edge for more than 13 minutes until Carolyn Cox evened the match in the 62nd minute after rebounding a deflection off Bryant keeper Kaylan Conrad (Avon, Conn.).

The two teams battled into the 76th minute until Sanders struck again, firing a shot from just right of the 18-yard box into the back of the net to grant the Black and Gold the 2-1 advantage with less than 15 minutes to play in regulation.

However, the Bears answered once again with Jordan's unassisted marker in the 84th minute and Morris's double OT game-winner in the 109th minute to secure the 3-2 triumph.

"We're certainly preaching to the girls that we are playing this tough of a schedule for a reason," noted Flint. "We are playing against the best teams that we can and competing in every single game with all but one resulting in a one-goal differential. The hope is that come Northeast Conference play, this team will be battle tested, but we need to start winning those close games.

"We will certainly use the next 10 days for rest and recovery leading up to Brown on Oct. 1, and then NEC play the following weekend."

The Bulldogs return to the pitch on Wednesday, Oct. 1 when they wrap-up the non-conference portion of their schedule with a match vs. Brown in Smithfield.

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