Grange Sets School Records in Big 2-1 Win
Smithfield, R.I. - Captain Casey Grange (Methuen, Mass.) set the Bryant University record for goals in a season and in a career in a 2-1 victory over St. Anselm Wednesday afternoon at Bulldog Stadium that had significant playoff ramifications.
Trailing 1-0, Grange tied the score, with one minute to play in the half, scoring from 20-yards out, firing the ball as she fell to the grass with significant tail spin that helped propel it past Hawks goaltender Micaela Smith. Grange, who was mobbed by her teammates and cheered loudly by the enthusiastic Bulldog faithful, set the school record for goals in a season with 14 and in a career with 35.
Grange later set-up Bryant's game-winning goal in the 64th minute, as she beat two Hawks' defenders and fired it at Smith who had trouble securing the ball. Diane Pascale (Plymouth, Mass.) was right there to put the ball away from two-feet out past the sprawling netminder. The goal was Pascale's seventh of the season and team-leading fifth game-winning goal.
With the clock running down, St. Anselm forward Nicole Dunn had a point-blank opportunity, taking a feed from Jocelyn Savastano, but Jessica Neales (Swansea, Mass.) came up with a big save, as she lunged to her left and caught the ball.
St. Anselm struck first as Heidi Reece scored her ninth of the season, blasting the ball from right outside the box past Neales in just the fifth minute.
But that was all the Bulldog defense would allow, as they held the Hawks to just six shots on goal. Neales made four saves, improving her record to 4-2-0.
With the win, the Bulldogs solidified their playoff position in the Northeast-10, as they currently sit in fifth place. St. Anselm remains in eighth after the loss.
The Bulldogs (11-6-1, 7-4-1 NE-10) will host Southern Connecticut State Saturday (11 a.m.) at Bulldog Stadium.