Bulldogs, Friars play to 2-2 draw

PROVIDENCE – Paced by two first-half goals, the Bryant University women's soccer team opened the 2011 campaign on Sunday with a 2-2 draw against in-state rival Providence College at Glay Field.

The Bulldogs (0-0-1) headed to the locker room at the end of the first half sporting a 2-0 lead, but two second-half tallies by the Friars (0-0-1) - including a late strike with 45 seconds left in regulation - sent the game to overtime, where both teams were unable to find the back of the net, settling instead for the tie.

Picking up right where she left off in 2010, senior Kaitlyn Hinck (Bow, N.H.) gave the Bulldogs the early lead just four minutes into the game.  Freshman striker Suzanne Sanders (West Chester, Pa.) carried the ball from the right side and took it into the top of the six-yard box.  Hinck received the pass across the box and buried it from seven yards out for her first of the year at the fourth minute. 

The Black and Gold would finish the first half the way they started it.  With time running out, junior midfielder Regan Marin (Bedford, N.Y.) doubled up the visitors' lead in the 43rd minute after taking a centering pass from senior midfielder Stephanie Morse (Warwick, R.I.) and putting it home from eight yards out to put the Bulldogs up 2-0.

Despite being outshot 9-3, sophomore Lauren Viverito (Dayton, N.J.) kept Providence off the board with four first-half saves.  The Bulldogs did control the physical battle, however, accumulating nine fouls over the Friars' three.

Providence got on the board in the 60th minute, pulling within a goal to make it 2-1.  Senior Taylor Bartini (Suffield, Conn.) put home a second-chance try to make it 2-1.  Sophomore midfielder Melina Toman (Albuquerque, N.M.) was credited with the assist after her initial shot deflected off the post.

With under a minute remaining in regulation, senior midfielder Laura DiClemente (Blue Bell, Pa.) redirected a one-timer into the net off a long pass from freshman midfielder Allison Walton (Brunswick, Maine), tying the contest at 2-2 with 45 ticks on the clock.  

That late strike would be enough to send the contest to overtime.  The Bulldogs would outshoot the Friars 2-1 between both extra frames, but PC netminder Caitlin Walker (Metuchen, N.J.) made her lone save of the game at the beginning of the second overtime, turning aside a chance by Bryant sophomore Ari Goldberg (East Bridgewater, Mass.) to preserve the tie.

The Bulldogs will return to the pitch on Friday, Aug. 26, when they host Rider in their home opener.  Game time is set for 3:30 p.m.

Notes and Notables 

Viverito was creditied with five saves on seven shots on goal (.714 SV%) ... Providence outshot Bryant 22-6 in the total shots taken category, and 7-3 in shots on goal ... Sanders recorded her first collegiate point on her assist during Hinck's first goal of the game ... The Bulldogs accumulated 14 total fouls (nine in the first half) compared to PC's 8 ... The Friars were awarded 10 corner kicks during the game, but did not convert on any.