Bulldogs struggle at CCSU Friday night

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – The Bryant University women's soccer team fell to Central Connecticut State, 4-1, Friday night in New Britain, Conn.

Three first half scores by the Blue Devils (8-5-3, 3-2-1 Northeast Conference) were too much for the Bulldogs (3-13-1, 1-4-1 NEC) to overcome, dropping their third-straight match in the process.

It was all Central in the opening 45 minutes, outshooting the Black and Gold, 10-1, in the first half, finding the back of the net three times, including a pair from Kelly Halligan.

Halligan put home her first marker of the night in the 19th minute when she teed up a free kick from the top of the box to put the hosts up 1-0 early. Halligan added her second of the evening on another free kick in the 23rd minute to up the advantage to two goals, until Alysa Christo put away her fourth of the season off a pass from Morgan Santoro in the 45th minute to put CCSU up 3-0 heading into halftime.

Out of the break, the Bulldogs seemed to find their legs, attacking the Central backline, with most of the play occurring in the Blue Devils defensive third. In the 56th minute, redshirt freshman Hannah Crofut (East Amherst, N.Y.) fired a shot on goal from the left side of the box that was pushed away by a diving Nicki Turley, one of her four saves on the night.

Bryant, who earned six corners compared to CCSU's one in the second half, finally found the back of the net in the 89th minute when senior Emily Barbato (Sutton, Mass.) converted on a penalty kick to cut the lead to 3-1 with just under two minutes to play.

Central went on to add a fourth score in the final seconds of play on a breakaway goal by Kacie O'Neill to secure to 4-1 victory.

Looking ahead, the Black and Gold will have a week to recover before returning to the pitch for their final two matches of the regular season when they host LIU Brooklyn on Friday (3 p.m.) and Robert Morris on Sunday (12 p.m.) for Senior Day.