Saturday Sweep at Bryant: Women's Soccer Upsets #5 Franklin Pierce; Completes 3-0 Day for Bryant Home Teams
September 8, 2007
Women's Soccer Defeats #5 Franklin Pierce 2-1
SMITHFIELD, R.I. - The Bryant women's soccer team remained unbeaten in 2007 after upsetting Franklin Pierce, ranked fifth nationally in Division II, 2-1 Saturday night at the Bryant Turf Complex.
The Ravens, who won the 2006 Conference title and the NCAA New England Regional, were the top-ranked club in the New England region entering Saturday's match, while Bryant was ranked fourth.
Trailing 1-0, Holly Tyser (Somers, CT) continued her strong start to the season, heading a pretty pass from Amy Orzechowski (Milford, CT) passed Raven goaltender Jenna Mello in the 23rd minute to even the score at 1. The goal was Tyser's fourth of the year, second best on the team.
The score remained that way through the first half, with Bryant being outshot 5-1. Making her second start in goal this season, Jessica Clark (Barnstable, MA) stopped four first-half shots to keep the score tied.
Senior tri-captain Tricia Spada (Dedham, MA) tallied the game-winning goal in the 56th minute, booming a shot from 35-yards out to the top-right side of the net past Mello for the go-ahead goal. Spada, who was last week's Northeast-10 Conference Player of the Week, posted her fifth goal in as many matches.
Clark and the Bulldog defense tightened up from there, limited the Ravens to just two second-half shots, and just one on net.
With the win, Bryant is unbeaten in six matches to start the season, with a 5-0-1 record. The Bulldogs will take rival Bentley College in Waltham, MA Tuesday afternoon at 3:30 p.m., before returning home to take on AIC Thursday night (7 p.m.).