Bulldogs strike early to take down Colonials, 2-0, in Friday’s NEC opener

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – The Bryant University women's soccer team wasted no time getting an early lead, played tremendous team defense and battled through wet conditions before adding another goal in Friday's Northeast Conference opener, as it defeated Robert Morris, 2-0, at home.

The Bulldogs (5-6) are now 5-1-2 against the Colonials (2-9) and have defeated them in two-straight regular-season meetings.

After being on the wrong end of early goals over the last two games, Bryant made sure that its conference home opener would not turn out the same way. Just 1:43 into the game, junior Brigitte Donaghy (Toronto, Ont.) lined up for a free kick from the far left wing about 30 yards from goal. She struck a great ball into the box and found sophomore Alison Guilmette (Coventry, R.I.), who headed it into the net to the left post.

It was just before the rain began to come down ferociously, but it was the Bulldogs that brought the storm to the Colonials. Robert Morris had just three shots all game, two coming in the first half with only one on net. Erin Ritzer fired a shot from 25 yards out in the 18th minute, but senior Kaylan Conrad (Avon, Conn.) caught it.

The Bulldogs controlled the half and did not allow the Colonials to get another quality look from there, as they owned time of possession, had four shots with two on target and won the only two corners of the first half. But to keeper Makenzie Shearson's credit, she made a pair of saves in the opening frame to keep the score 1-0 at the break.

Bryant was even more active in the second stanza, even with the slippery surface, as it made runs and pressed forward for nearly the entirety of the half. The Bulldogs fired off the first seven shots of the half over the first 20 minutes, though only two were on goal.

The Colonials then earned their first corner of the game in the 76th minute, but Bryant cleared and defended any chance of a sudden surge. Just seven minutes later, senior Kianna Woods (Stafford Springs, Conn.) received a pass from Hannah Crofut (East Amherst, N.Y.) and did not let anyone else touch the ball. She made a couple of dribbles to the middle of the field and fired a shot from 10 yards outside the box and buried it to the left post to make it 2-0.

The Colonials could not get a clear look or play into the box despite four Bryant fouls and a couple of free kicks over the final seven minutes, as the Bulldogs earned their fifth NEC opening win in program history.

Junior Haley Reddish (Natick, Mass.) was all over the pitch and active from the midfield once again, leading all performers with four shots and two on goal. Guilmette had two shots with her second goal of the year, Donaghy's helper was her second of the year, and Wood's only shot of the game was her first goal of the season. Conrad made two saves in the win and earned her fourth complete-game shutout.

Ritzer paced the Colonials with two shots, one on net, while Jane Schleicher had the other shot for the visitors. Shearson had four saves in the loss, two in each frame.

The Bulldogs remain home and have their quickest turnaround of the season when they play LIU Brooklyn on Sunday at 1:00 p.m.