Bulldogs blanked by Red Flash

LORETTO, Pa. – The Bryant University field hockey team was shut out for just the second time this season, falling to Saint Francis (PA), 4-0, on Sunday afternoon at DeGol Field.  

The Bulldogs (7-8, 1-3 Northeast Conference) were limited to just six shots over the span of the game, while conference rookie of the year candidate Autumn Pellman added two more goals to increase her team-leading total to 12 on the season, pushing the Red Flash (5-11, 3-1) to a key conference victory.

After an even battle through the first 25 minutes of play, SFPA struck twice in the final 10 minutes of the first stanza, with Carissa Makea scoring on a penalty corner to hand the Red Flash a 1-0 lead at 27:10.  Tia Dudukovich and Kellie Mason assisted on the play, as Makea buried her fifth marker of the season from the wing to cap off the scoring play.

Six minutes later, a defensive mishap led to a breakaway goal for Mason, marking her fourth strike of the season to give the home team a 2-0 lead heading into the locker room.

Following the break, the Red Flash continued to keep the momentum on their side, taking the first four shots of the second frame before breaking through at 51:31 on Pellman's first of two on the day.  The freshman scored on a turnaround shot from just in front of the net to push SFPA's lead to 3-0. 

Toward the end of regulation, the Red Flash iced the match on Pellman's second marker, scoring on a cross from Erica Johnson to make it 4-0.

Bryant saw a five-safe effort from sophomore Megan Hancock (Skowhegan, Maine), while SFPA's Katelyn Vitali earned the clean sheet on a four-save performance.

Freshman forward Rosie Bird (Hamilton, New Zealand) reeled off a team-high three shots, with two on target for the Bulldogs.

Saint Francis held a 15-7 advantage in shot attempts, while the Red Flash also led in penalty corners by an 11-6 margin.

The Bulldogs will look to make up ground in the conference standings in their final three games of the regular season.  Bryant currently sits in a three-way tie for fifth place with games against fourth-place Quinnipiac, fifth-place Sacred Heart and eighth-place Seina remaining on the schedule.  The top four teams qualify for the NEC Tournament.

Next up for Bryant will be a Friday night battle against Sacred Heart on Oct. 21, with game time slated for 7 p.m. under the lights at the Track and Turf Complex.

For continuing coverage of Bryant University field hockey, check back at www.bryantbulldogs.com, and be sure to follow the Bulldogs on Twitter @BryantAthletics.