Bird scores twice late to lift Bryant, 4-3

BULLDOGS STUN BEARS WITH TWO LATE TALLIES

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Trailing 3-2 with under seven minutes to play, junior Rosie Bird (Hamilton, New Zealand) scored two goals to life the Bryant University field hockey team to a scintillating 4-3 victory over intra-state rival Brown on Friday afternoon at Goldberger Field.

Bird's second hat trick in as many games gives the Bulldogs (2-1) their second-straight win and third-straight over the Bears (0-1).

With just 6:30 minutes remaining in the contest, the Black and Gold were awarded a penalty corner and took advantage. Senior Mallory Hancock (Skowhegan, Maine) took the corner and found Bird, who fired it into the back of the cage for her second goal of the game. Six minutes later, Hancock again found Bird after a penalty corner and the New Zealander buried it to give the Bulldogs the lead for good.

Bird's first goal of the game gave Bryant a 1-0 lead 23 minutes into the contest. After her initial shot was stopped, she was able to knock home the rebound to put the Bulldogs on the board.

Brown would tie the game eight minutes later as Alexis Miller potted her first goal of the season off an assist from Meghan O'Donnell.

The Bulldogs, however, grabbed the momentum at the half as senior Olivia Jankins (West Brookfield, Mass.) was able to knock home a loose ball following a pair of saves from the Brown keeper.

The Bears grabbed their first and only lead of the game with goals 1:36 apart. O'Donnell knocked home a rebound off a penalty corner to tie the game at 2-2 and Hannah Rogers potted her first goal of the year moments later to put the Bears on top.

Bird has now scored six goals in the last two games, including the overtime game-winner vs. Colgate last Sunday at the Bryant Turf Complex. In addition to her first goal of the season, Jankins also earned an assist. Hancock now leads the team with four helpers on the year. Her sister, Megan Hancock (Skowhegan, Maine), made six saves in net to earn her second win of the year. Bryant outshot the Bears, 17-15, and held a 15-8 advantage in penalty corners.

The Bulldogs continue their road trip on Sunday, as they travel to Cambridge, Mass., to face Harvard at 1:00 p.m.