Bulldogs unable to hold onto lead, fall to Stags, 3-2, in overtime at MAAC Semifinals

WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. – The Bryant University field hockey team tied and then took the lead against Fairfield, but the Stags scored in the final 1:41 of regulation to force extra time, where the No. 2 seed captured the 3-2 overtime win in the MAAC Semifinals.

The Stags (8-12, 4-2 MAAC) were on the board first, scoring in the ninth minute. Following a Bulldogs' (4-14, 4-2) penalty, sophomore Corrine Persichetti played the ball off a quick start and serviced it long into the circle, where senior Ann Burgoyne redirected it into the back of the cage for a Stags' 1-0 advantage and Burgoyne's 12th score of the season.

Sophomore Victoria Newbill (Wilton, Maine) scored her second goal of the year, tying the contest for the Bulldogs, 1-1, in the 22nd minute. Junior First Team All-MAAC Selection Keighan Richardson (North Attleboro, Mass.) started the scoring play, drag-flicking the ball into play from the near sideline to freshman Floor van Dommelen (Berg en Dal, Netherlands). The All-MAAC Second Teamer settled the pass before serving a long ball into the circle, where Newbill was there to run onto the pass, deflecting it low past the Stags' keeper Caitlin Bennett.

Richardson gave the Bulldogs the lead in the 43rd minute, doing it on her own after spinning off a defender, following the ball reversal through the backline. The defender then cut back to elude two Stags before dribbling into the circle. The All-MAAC First Teamer lost the ball in a scramble in the circle, but then recovered it, dribbled toward the end line, shot and scored to give Bryant a 2-1 advantage.

The Bulldogs went on to maintain the advantage for 26 minutes, continuing to out-possess the Stags until Fairfield scored with 1:41 remaining in the game to draw the Bryant, 2-2, and force extra time. Sophomore Emma Clark scored off the Stags' fourth and final penalty corner of the game. Despite the regular-season outcome, where the Bulldogs won at home in overtime, Fairfield captured the semifinal win just 1:46 into extra time when Burgoyne recorded her 13th score of the year on a put-back off the rebound.

Fairfield out-shot the Bulldogs, 17-11, placing 11 on goal to Bryant's six. Elizardo finished with eight saves, including a number of kick saves that kept Bryant in the game, while Bennett totaled four in over 70 minutes of play.