Bryant falls 5-2 in Navy Invitational opener

ANNAPOLIS, Md. – The Bryant University women's soccer team scored the game's first goal for the fourth time in five tries, but could not overcome three second-half strikes by host Navy, falling 5-2 in the opening round of the Navy Invitational on Friday in Annapolis, Md.

The loss snaps a two-game winning streak for the Bulldogs (2-2-1), who outshot the Mids (4-2-1) by a 16-14 margin, but five different Navy players combined to propel the home team to its third straight win and fourth in five contests.

Lauren Viverito (Dayton Park, N.J.) and Kelsi Jacob (Mahwah, N.J.) handled the goaltending duties for the Bulldogs, while Alexes Lopez-Shaw and Hannah Legler combined for seven saves in net for the Mids. 

For the fourth time this season, it was the Bulldogs recording the game's first goal, this time by Kaitlyn Hinck (Bow, N.H.).  The senior striker intercepted a pass from a Navy player intended for the goalkeeper, and buried it in the open net in the 12^th minute, giving Bryant a 1-0 lead.  It was Hinck's second goal of the season.

Later in the half, Caprice Kelty got the Mids on the board in the 37^th minute, finding the back of the net for the first time in 2011 to tie the game at 1-1.  The ball was played in the box off of a Bryant defender, where Kelty booted it in from eight yards out.

Six minutes later, Jade Seabrook converted on a free kick set up by Kate Herren.  The play began with a touch by Rachel Hunter to set up the indirect, and the ball wound up with Seabrook inside the box, who tapped it into the net to double up Navy's lead at 2-1.

Navy would continue the offensive outburst with three more unanswered goals in the second before Suzanne Sanders (West Chester, Pa.) scored her first collegiate tally in the 82^nd minute to pull Bryant within three.  The rookie forward came up with the ball off a turnover and chipped it in for the goal.

Bryant will resume play on Sunday against George Washington University in the Navy Invitational.  Game time is set for 11:30 a.m.

For continuing coverage of Bryant women's soccer, check back at www.bryantbulldogs.com, and follow members of the coaching staff on Twitter @CoachCFlint, @mash513, and @stephski9.