Bulldogs go for two-straight

FIELD HOCKEY HEADS TO HOLY CROSS LOOKING FOR SECOND-STRAIGHT VICTORY

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – After picking up its first Northeast Conference victory of 2012, the Bryant University field hockey team will head to Worcester, Mass., on Tuesday for a showdown with Holy Cross to close out non-conference play. Game time is set for 6 p.m.

The Bulldogs (3-9) opened NEC play on Sunday by defeating Siena, 5-1, at the Bryant Turf Complex. The contest was only the second home game of the year for the Bulldogs who improved to 2-0 in Smithfield. The Crusaders (2-9, 1-1 Patriot League) are coming off a 4-0 loss to Patriot League-foe Bucknell on Saturday.

On Sunday, junior Kayleigh Ballantyne (Gorham, Maine) scored a pair of goals and added an assist as the Bulldogs earned a dominant 5-1 victory over Siena. Leading 1-0 at the half, Bryant broke the game open with four goals in the second half, scoring a pair of goals within the first 12 minutes.

Ballantyne notched her first marker of the game just over two minutes into the half, knocking a rebound into a wide open cage. The lead grew to 3-0 just over 10 minutes later as Rosie Bird (Hamilton, New Zealand) recorded her eighth goal of the season.

Abigail Armstrong (Mahopac, N.Y.), Michelle Fallon (Pompton Plains, N.J.) and Molly Morrison (York, Maine) all recorded goals for the Bulldogs in their most impressive victory of the season.

Bryant outshot Siena, 21-7, in the contest despite the teams posting an even mark, 8-8, in penalty corners. Ballantyne now leads the team with eight assists and Armstrong notched a goal and an assist. Megan Hancock (Skowhegan, Maine) made six saves to pick up her third win of the season.

The Crusaders sit at 2-9 through eleven games this season with victories over Siena and Lehigh. Junior Carly Grimaudo leads her team with 13 points on six goals and one assist. Senior Megan Bourne has recorded seven points (3 g, 1 a) while freshman Michelle McNeil has contributed 5 points (2 g, 1 a). Sophomore Kat Matchett has started all eleven games between the pipes for the Crusaders, posting a .652 save percentage.

In the series history, the Bulldogs are 3-0 against Holy Cross with their last meeting coming on Oct. 4, 2011. Junior Mallory Hancock (Skowhegan, Maine) tallied the only score, eight minutes into the contest, to notch a 1-0 Bryant victory.

The Black and Gold will look to stay unbeaten against the Crusaders as they go for their second-straight victory Tuesday night.

For links to live stats and streaming video of Tuesday's contest and all the latest information on Bryant University field hockey, visit BryantBulldogs.com.