Bulldogs fall to Rams, 4-2, in home opener Thursday afternoon

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – The Bryant University women's soccer team was defeated, 4-2, by the University of Rhode Island Thursday afternoon.

The Bulldogs (0-3-0) were first to score in the 18^th minute after sophomore forward Haley Reddish (Natick, Mass.) finished the deflection off her own penalty kick. Initially, Ram's goalie Katie Nickles made a diving save to her right but Reddish was there to clean up, tallying her first goal of the season, as well as the Bulldogs' first on the year.

Rhode Island responded with three goals over the next three minutes to take a commanding lead. The surge started when Nicole Brennan broke away from a Bryant defender and sent the ball across the box from the left side where Ari Stanton finished with a header from the right side.

Just over two minutes later, Ari Stanton found the net again, finishing Katrin Gylfadottir's corner kick in the 25^th minute. URI wasted little time adding to the lead, scoring 33 seconds later. Alex Stanton crossed the ball into the 18-yard box where Madison Waldron was there to finish with her head.

Before the close of the first period, the Rams pushed their lead to, 4-1, on a goal from Waldron.

Senior forward Sarah Schucker (Nanuet, N.Y.) found her fourth career goal and first of the season in the 84^th minute, finding the bottom left corner off a Bryant penalty kick. The Rams committed a handball in the box, leading to a Schucker PK. The first attempt was saved by Nickles but called back after URI entering the box before the shot was taken, giving Schucker a second chance to convert.

Junior goalie Kaylan Conrad (Avon, Conn.) saw the start for the Black and Gold, totaling seven saves in 68 minutes, while sophomore Rachel Brightman (Rochester, N.Y.) capped off the rest of the time in net. Nickles finished the game with 10 saves for the Rams. 

The Bulldogs are back in action Sunday, September 6 at Fairfield for a 1 p.m. start.