Bulldogs fall to No. 9 Albany, 5-0, Sunday

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – The Bryant University field hockey team held No. 9 UAlbany to just one first half goal but the Great Danes opened things up with three goals within the first 10 minutes of the second half on their way to a 5-0 victory Sunday afternoon in Albany.

With the loss, the Bulldogs (0-2) fall to 0-4 all-time against the Great Danes (2-0). UAlbany is the highest ranked team Bryant has faced in Division I program history.

The Black and Gold held their own throughout the first 35 minutes, surrendering just a lone goal in the 13th minute to Camryn Dias. Bryant trailed in shots 8-5 and led 2-1 in penalty corners taken.

That all changed in the second half, however, as UAlbany outshot the Bulldogs 17-1 and earned nine penalty corners. Molly Mariano made it 2-0 three minutes in and Paula Heuser, a former National Player of the Year, scored in the 42nd and 45th minute.

All three goals were rather similar for the Great Danes as Heuser set up Mariano's marker with a slashing run along the end line before sending a pass to the front of the cage. UAlbany followed the same script for its next goal and Heuser's second of the day came off a penalty corner. Mariano capped the Great Danes' scoring with her second goal of the game in the 68th minute.

UAlbany finished the game with a 25-6 advantage in shots and a 10-2 advantage in penalty corners. Sophomore Melissa Elizardo (North Wales, Pa.) made five saves in the game, while senior Victoria Danby (Lancaster, Mass.) posted three of Bryant's six shots.

The Bulldogs return to action next week when they face Providence and Yale on Sept. 4 and Sept. 5.