Bulldogs tie best four-game start to NEC play with Friday’s 2-0 win at the Mount

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – The Bryant University women's soccer team controlled the pace of play more so than they have all year with a third shutout in Northeast Conference action in Friday's 2-0 victory over Mount St. Mary's

The Bulldogs (7-7, 3-1) match the most wins in league action through four games in program history and earned their third NEC shutout and seventh overall.  

The visitors jumped out to an early lead just 7:40 into the game. Hannah Crofut (East Amherst, N.Y.) sent a cross into the box that was headed out by the Mountaineers (4-8-1, 0-3). The cross went right back to Crofut, who took a couple of dribbles to the middle from the right wing. She sent a through ball to junior Haley Reddish (Natick, Mass.), who took one touch which was a strong shot from 25 yards out that sunk down at the final second and bounced off the bottom of the cross bar beyond and into the net.

The Bulldogs dominated the first half, rifling off six shots with two on target, as they did not allow a Mountaineer shot and conceded just one corner.

The second half was more of the same for Bryant with nine shots and four on frame compared to just four shots off target. The Black and Gold wasted little time coming out of the break to get the second score. Crofut made a nice cutback move to lose a defender on the right left side. She sent a nice through ball to senior Kianna Woods (Stafford Springs, Conn.) on the left wing, who struck a low cross into the box.

Keeper Maddy Bunnell stopped the cross momentarily, but could not control the ball. Reddish was it in the vicinity, she won back possession through the congestion and passed to classmate Claire Bergh (Calgary, Alberta) from just inside the box. Bergh struck it with her right foot and bent it to the upper right corner and into the goal.

Bryant had a handful of quality chances from there, including a breakaway with 10 minutes remaining, as senior Quinn Massaroni (East Greenbush, N.Y.) was free down the close right wing. She was less than 10 yards out when she shot, but Bunnell charged up and knocked the ball away for one of her three second-half saves.

After a relatively quiet first 85 minutes, senior Kaylan Conrad (Avon, Conn.) returned the favor. A low cross got through the Bryant defense and found Gianna Pomykacz alone for a one-on-one situation. She had just gotten into the box, but Conrad came up from her line, slid and corralled the ball away to preserve her sixth shutout of the season.   

Reddish paced the Bulldogs with the assist and goal, while Bergh scored her first of the season. Woods had three shots with two on net, and Crofut added her third assist of the year. Despite not making a save, Conrad and the defense played very well in holding an opponent to no shots on goal for the first time this year.

Shayna Macfarlane paced the Mountaineers with two shots, while Dom Stauffer and Bianca Gillman each had one. Bunnell made four saves in the loss.

The Bulldogs return home and will host defending NEC champ Fairleigh Dickinson on Sunday at 1:00 p.m.