Women's soccer routs UMass 4-1

AMHERST, Mass. – Led by a pair of goals from sophomore Shana Follette (Plymouth, Mass.), the Bryant University women's soccer team downed the University of Massachusetts, 4-1, on Sunday afternoon at Rudd Field.

The Bulldogs (2-1-1), winners of two straight, hopped out to a 3-1 lead in the first half, and withheld 22 shot attempts from the Minutewomen (2-1-1), handing the host team its first defeat on the season.

Bryant did not have to wait long to get on the board, as an own-goal by the Minutewomen put the Bulldogs up 1-0 in the fifth minute.  Ari Goldberg (East Bridgewater, Mass.) had attempted a corner kick moments before, leading to a fray in the box that wound up in the net.

The sophomore forward then doubled the visitors' lead with her first goal of the season just five minutes later.  Senior Kaitlyn Hinck (Bow, N.H.) sent a touch pass into the middle of the box, where Goldberg blasted it high and over UMass netminder Stephanie Gordon (Rockland, Mass.) to make it 2-0.  Gordon finished the game with four saves on eight attempts.

In the 35^th minute, Follette connected for her first marker of the game on a long-range shot off a give-and-go pass from junior Jennifer Harding (Lancaster, Mass.), putting the Bulldogs up 3-0.  But UMass would not need long to answer, as Deanna Colarossi (Burlington, Ontario) converted off the restart, carrying the ball in to the corner of the box and sending a shot onto the far corner that found the back of the net.

Kelsi Jacob (Mahwah, N.J.) was tabbed the starter for the third straight game, turning in an eight-save performance to pick up her first victory of the season.  The junior netminder did not have to wait long to see action, as Colarossi put a header on net in the game's third minute, but Jacob was up to the task.  Cecilia Jensen (Boxborough, Mass.) tried to make up for UMass' own-goal with a pair of chances in the sixth minute, but Jacob punched the initial shot aside, and the rebound was sent wide.

Julie Morrissey (Abington, Mass.), who had previously recorded three of the Minutewomen's four goals on the season, had a couple of looks in the 27th minute, ripping a shot that was blocked by the defense before her second-chance shot went over the net.  The senior transfer attempted a game-high six shots, with two on net.

Early in the second half, Bryant nearly went back up by three after junior midfielder Alex Bengston (Andover, Mass.) blasted a shot that bounced off the crossbar.  UMass had a chance to claw back to within a goal in the 68^th minute, but the Bryant defense stepped up, blocking the first shot before Jacob stepped in to temper the scoring threat.

Follette rounded out the scoring in the 72^nd minute, when she converted on a gorgeous shot from the right corner of the box that bent under the crossbar, putting the Bulldogs up for good, 4-1.

The Black and Gold will travel next weekend to Annapolis, Md., for a pair of games next weekend.  Bryant will face off against host Navy on Friday, Sept. 9, for a 7 p.m. nightcap, and will close the weekend out against George Washington on Sunday, Sept. 11, at 11:30 a.m.

For continuing coverage of Bryant women's soccer, check back at www.bryantbulldogs.com, and follow the Bulldogs on Twitter @BryantAthletics.