Bulldogs face heartbreaking, 4-3, overtime loss on Friday afternoon

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Junior Victoria Danby (Lancaster, Mass.) notched her 10th goal of the season, sending the match into overtime, but it was not enough for the Bryant University field hockey team to overcome Siena on the road Friday afternoon.  

The Bulldogs (2-12, 0-2) fell to the Saints (3-9, 2-0), 4-3, in overtime, marking the sixth match of the season that has been decided by a single goal.

Freshman Victoria Newbill (Wilton, Maine) kicked off the Bulldogs' scoring, tallying her second goal of the season in the 17th minute. The forward deflected a long shot from Anna Kennedy (Macungie, Pa.) into the cage to put the Black and Gold up 1-0.

The Saints responded with three-straight scores, after Aubrie Bleier, Fabiana Citro and Ashley Dona each found the back of the net, respectively. Bleier received a pass from Brittany Onesto deep in Bulldogs' territory, collecting the ball and turning to finish past Bryant keeper Marissa Elizardo (New Wales, Pa.).

Citro went unassisted, finishing a rebound and putting the Saints up 2-1. Dona advanced the lead to two, after connecting with a pass from Sage Stebbins, finishing the deflection over Elizardo. The freshman goalie finished the match with four saves.

Freshman Emily Perryman (Lebanon, N.H.) and Danby stepped up for the Bulldogs, scoring the next two goals unassisted and sending the match into overtime. Perryman carried the ball towards the right side past the Saints' defense and fired from the top of the circle. In style, Danby lofted the ball into the cage, just under the crossbar, off a backhanded shot in the 67th minute of play.

Despite the Bulldogs momentum late in the game, they were unable to hold off Siena's attack. In the first minute of overtime, Bleier recorded her second score of the game, sealing the Saints' 4-3 victory.

The Bulldogs return to action on Sunday, Oct. 18, when they take on Sacred Heart at 1 p.m. in Smithfield.