FH drops shootout heartbreaker to Quinnipiac Sunday

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Despite a pair of goals from senior forward Rosie Bird (Hamilton, New Zealand), the Bryant University field hockey team fell to Quinnipiac, 3-2, in an epic shootout Sunday afternoon at the Bryant Turf Complex.

Despite outshooting the Bobcats (6-8, 2-0 MAAC), 20-17, including 14-3 in overtime, the Bulldogs (4-10, 1-2 MAAC) were unable to put away the game-winner in overtime, dropping their second MAAC contest of the season.

After a Haley Swartz goal put the Bobcats up 1-0 at the 19:00 minute mark, the Black and Gold responded off a beautiful corner played from Erin Karcher (Kennett Square, Pa.) to Mikayla Fitzmaurice (Skowhegan, Maine) to the top of the circle, placing a perfect ball for Bird to knot the score, 1-1, at the 32:13 mark.

Bird would go on to score again at the 52:01 mark off another perfectly placed corner from Karcher to give Bryant the 2-1 edge with less than 20 minutes to play in regulation. However, Quinnipiac answered back just over six minutes later when Lauren Belskie chipped in a rebounded deflected by Megan Hancock (Skowhegan, Maine) to knot the score, 2-2.

In overtime, the Bulldogs dominated, particularly in the second extra period, outshooting Quinnipiac, 11-1, but neither team was able to put away their third goal forcing a shootout.

In the shootout, Quinnipiac took an early 2-0 lead off scores from Danielle Allan and Lea Dietrichs, but Bryant cut the deficit to just one with a Karcher make on Bryant's second attempt. However, after a pair of Bulldog misses, the Bobcats secured the 3-2 shootout victory with a goal from Megan Osanitsch in their final attempt.

Bird led all players with a season-high 14 shots, including 10 on net to go along with her two goals. Hancock made 10 saves in her 14th start of the season, marking her fourth double-digit stop effort this year.

Looking ahead, the Bulldogs will take a brief break from MAAC play when they visit La Salle on Sunday, Oct. 26, before wrapping up league action with trips to Rider (Oct. 31) and Monmouth (Nov. 2)

For all the latest news on the Bryant University field hockey team, visit BryantBulldogs.com.