Bryant drops close one to Yale, 14-13

DESPITE SECOND HALF COMEBACK, BRYANT FALLS TO YALE, 14-13, WEDNESDAY NIGHT

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Despite outscoring their opponents, 8-4, in the second half of play, the Bryant University women's lacrosse team fell to Yale, 14-13, Wednesday night at the Bryant Turf Complex.

After a Kimberley Sniffen (Redding, Conn.) free position score at the 23:58 mark of the first period put the Rhode Island Bulldogs (1-3) up one goal, Yale (2-2, 1-0 Ivy) went on to score the next four markers, including two from Kerri Fleishhacker, opening up a 4-1 advantage less than 12 minutes into the contest.

A pair of free position goals from junior Lisa Vendel (Newtown, Conn.) brought Bryant within a single score the Connecticut Bulldogs rallied off five-straight goals, two more from Fleishhacker and a pair from Devon Rhodes, to extend the lead to six goals, 9-3. Before the half closed, Vendel added her third tally of the day, and Yale's Nicole Daniggelis and freshman Lauren Descalzo (Hauppaeuge, N.Y.) each found the back of the net to make in 10-5 Yale at the halftime break.

The Black and Gold came out of the locker room scorching hot and wasted little time scoring six of the first seven goals of the final period. Sniffen and Descalzo tallied there second marker of the night each and Skylar Zlotnick (Essex Fells, N.J.) put in her first scoreof the season, while Haley Bloom (Hauppauge, N.Y.) snuck three goals past Yale keeper Erin McMullan to even the score, 11-11.

The two squads would trade scores back-and-firth over the final 14 minutes of play, but a Fleishhacker goal at 5:59 would break the 13-13 tie, pushing Yale ahead, 14-13.

In the final minute of play, the Bulldogs forced Yale into a turnover but were unable to get a shot off as Yale escaped with a 14-13 win in Smithfield.

The Bulldogs will look to snap their two-game skid when they head to DeLand, Fla., on Wednesday, March 13 to play Stetson at 7 p.m.

For all the latest news on the Bryant University women's lacrosse team, visit BryantBulldogs.com.