BRYANT FALLS TO RIDER IN CONFERENCE ACTION, 3-0, FRIDAY AFTERNOON
October 16, 2009
BRYANT FALLS TO RIDER IN CONFERENCE ACTION, 3-0, FRIDAY AFTERNOON
SMITHFIELD, R.I. - The Bryant University field hockey team was unable to hand Rider its first loss of the season Friday afternoon as the Bulldogs fell to the Broncs, 3-0, in Northeast Conference action.
The Bulldogs' offense was thwarted from the outset, as Bryant (4-9, 1-3 NEC) was outshot by the home side, 22-2. Senior Tia Pydynkowski (Hampton Falls, N.H.) registered both shots of Bryant's shots.
But the Bulldog defense would hold for the majority of the first half, keeping Rider (13-0, 4-0) off the board until the 34th minute, when Austyn Swartz converted on a loose ball stolen off an errant Bryant pass.
After the intermission, the Broncs wouldn't waste time upping their lead, earning a 2-0 advantage at the 39:14 mark when Marlaine Schneider took a pass from Erin McGinniss and found net past Bryant goalkeeper Kundayi Mawema (Harare, Zimbabwe). But it was sophomore Jennifer Gullotti (Waltham, Mass.) who got the start between the pipes for the Bulldogs, just her second appearance and first start of the season.
Jackie Adams would get a touch to redirect a Schneider shot to close out the scoring in the 57th minute, sending the visiting Bulldogs home with a 3-0 loss and moving Rider to 13-0 on the 2009 season.
Virginia Egusquiza registered seven shots for the home team, while four of Schneider's five shots went on goal to lead Rider offensively. Broncs goalie Lyndsie Johnson made one stop on the day while the Bryant goalie tandem of Gullotti (3) and Mawema (5) combined for eight saves.
The Bulldogs return to action Sunday, Oct. 18 when they close out their 2009 road schedule at Sacred Heart with a 12 p.m. matchup.