Despite solid defensive showing, Bulldogs drop 2-0 decision to No. 20 Maine

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Despite playing tough defense for over 33-straight minutes, the Bryant University field hockey team was unable to hang on against No. 20 Maine, as the Black Bears won, 2-0, netting both scores off penalty corners.

"Maine's attack corners did us in, otherwise we defended well in regular field play," head coach Shaunessy Saucier.

The Black Bears (6-1) controlled much of the first half, earning six penalty corners and firing off 10 shots. The pressure eventually proved to be too much, as sophomore Casey Crowley knocked one into the bottom right corner off a Maine penalty corner opportunity with 1:29 to go in the first. The goal marked Crowley's sixth of the season and assist number four for Samantha Wagg and three for Riley Field.

In the first 35 minutes of play, the Bulldogs (0-7) recorded a single shot. With just over nine minutes to play in the first period, senior Victoria Danby (Lancaster, Mass.) collected a deflection off of a Maine pass and shot from the right side, missing wide left. The forward led the Black and Gold with three shots in the contest.

"We played well defensively in the midfield," said Saucier. "Marissa Elizardo (New Wales, Pa.) played great and Keighan Richardson (North Attleboro, Mass.) pushed up and generated a lot of attack from the backfield along with Leyna DiMarco (Glastonbury, Conn.)."

The Bryant defense again came out strong in the second half, fending off six Maine shots in the opening 15 minutes of the final period. Following back-to-back attempts by the Black Bears, the hosts earned a penalty corner in the 54th minute, ultimately resulting in a Black Bears' goal.

Maine pushed their lead to two with 16:24 to go in the contest, as Wagg earned one of her own, notching her fifth goal of the season. Ella Mosky inserted the ball from the corner, where Libby Riedl was there for the stick stop, setting up the shot for Wagg, as she buried it home in the bottom right corner for the 2-0 lead.

The Black Bears fired off 20 shots to Bryant's four in the game, including six that were placed on fame. Freshman Freya Ward (Haywards Heath, England) placed the only Bryant attempt on net in the 70 minutes of play, marking her second shot of the season. Elizardo finished the contest with four saves, moving her total to 40 on the year.

"We need to have our mids take more shots and have our forwards getting in front of the cage for deflections and rebounds," said Saucier.

The Bulldogs remain up north, facing off against Vermont on Sunday at 1 p.m.