Spitaleri scores first Bryant D1 hat trick in Senior Day win

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Powered by the program's first hat trick in the Division I era, the Bryant University women's soccer team earned a Senior Day victory on Sunday afternoon by defeating LIU Brooklyn.

Game Information

Bryant 3, LIU Brooklyn 0

Records: Bryant 8-6-1 (4-2-1 NEC), LIU Brooklyn 2-12-3 (0-6-1)

Location: Bulldog Soccer Field | Smithfield, R.I.

Coach Biggs' Comments

"I thought our team put together two very good halves today. Our passing was sharp, we did well with our scoring opportunities and the lines were all well organized defensively. We're very pleased with the outcome of the weekend with six points, five goals and two shutouts. Today's performance was a great way to celebrate the seniors and their many contributions to our team and program."

Key Moment

Sophomore Amanda Spitaleri (Ronkonkoma, N.Y.) scored the first of her three this afternoon, fighting off LIU Brooklyn defenders to put a header into the top of the net in the 16^th minute and Bryant was off and running from there.

Scoring Summary

• 16^th minute – Bryant 1, LIU Brooklyn 0 – Spitaleri was able to get position inside the six-yard box where freshman Corinne Rey's (Norton, Mass.) corner kick was waiting to be put into the net.
• 27^th minute – Bryant 2, LIU Brooklyn 0 – The second goal came off a good run of play, where senior Rachel Benz (Stamford, Conn.) was able to thread a ball between two Sacred Heart defenders. Spitaleri got on the end of it and slid it past the keeper and into the bottom left corner.
• 48^th minute – Bryant 3, LIU Brooklyn 0 – The sophomore's third goal displayed great technique as she chested down a headed clearance and hit the ball first time with her left foot, slicing it into the left netting and finishing off the hat trick.

Stats/Notes

• The three-goal performance from the Long Islander is just the sixth in the last 20 years from someone wearing the Black and Gold, and the first since Casey Grange scored three in 2006 against Dominican.
• Both Benz's and Rey's assists were their first of the season and fifth points of the year. Benz's career tally is now up to eight points.
• Along with Spitaleri's four shots, senior Alex Ralph (Peterborough, Ontario) put three shots towards goal and senior Cayla D'Amico (Grafton, Mass.) added two.
• Sophomore Meghan Dalton (West Hartford, Conn.) made four saves for her second consecutive clean sheet and her fifth of the year.
• Bryant finished the day with a 14-9 shot advantage, as well as the taker of all three corners in the match.
• The Bulldogs finish 2018 with a 4-3-1 record at home.

Up Next

The regular season finale will have all to play for on Friday afternoon in Emmitsburg. If Bryant wins or ties the Mountaineers, then they will be back in the Northeast Conference postseason for the third time in the last four years.