Five Bulldogs score in first home win

Five Bryant players score in 5-1 win over Citadel Sunday morning

HIGHLIGHTS

SMITHFIELD, RI – The Bryant University women's soccer team defeated The Citadel, 5-1, Sunday morning at Bulldog Stadium to notch its first home win of the year.

Paced by four second half goals, the Black and Gold (2-1) displayed a balanced scoring attack en route to their second win of the season and their first at Bulldog Stadium.

In the opening minutes of the match, The Citadel (0-2) controlled the pace of the game striking first in the seventh minute. Junior Mariana Garcia received a pass in the box off a free kick from Anastasia Mesa and was able to flick the ball past junior goalkeeper Lauren Viverito (Dayton, N.J.) for the first score of the game.

Moments later, Bryant senior Carolyn Giuliano (Wethersfield, Conn.) netted the equalizer off a helper from junior Ari Goldberg (East Bridgewater, Mass.). Guiliano received the past from 25 yards out and fired a rocket past Citadel goalkeeper Cassie Palmacci for her first goal of 2012.

"It was certainly a tale of two halves," said Bryant head coach Chris Flint. "We were extremely disappointed with the first half in terms of how we came out.

"I told them at halftime that, 'It's now a 45 minute game,'" added Flint. "'And we need to play our game in the second half,' and to their credit they did."

The Bulldogs saw their highest scoring half of the season thus far netting four goals in the second period. Goldberg got the Bulldogs started in the 48th minute when she got ahold of a rebound off a shot from senior Jessica MacAndrew (Coventry, R.I.). Goldberg corralled the ball in front of the net and fired it past the keeper for her second goal of 2012.

In the 57th minute, Mary Green (Merrick, N.Y.) extended the Bryant lead, 3-1. Green advanced the ball along the right side of the pitch before launching a beautifully placed shot over Palmacci's outstretched hand to the far corner of the net for her first score of the year.

The Black and Gold notched another goal in the 65th minute when freshman Rachael Ivanicki (Colts Neck, N.J.) set up sophomore Katy Biagi (Natick, Mass.) for her first career goal. Ivanicki crossed the ball from left to right in front of the Citadel goal to a diving Biagi who completed the spectacular play, extending the Bryant lead to three goals.

The final Bryant goal came in the 86th minute from senior Jennifer Harding (Lancaster, Mass.). After a loose ball created a wild scramble inside the Citadel 18-yard box, Harding came away with the ball and fired a shot past Palmacci for her first goal of 2012.

Bryant outshot The Citadel, 18-11, in the game. Viverito stopped three shots, while Palmacci had four saves of her own.

"I told the team after the game that this has to be the standard for us going forward," said Flint. "We need to put 90 minutes of that together if we want to be successful down the road."

Bryant will conclude its early-season homestand on Thursday when Holy Cross (1-0-1) visits Smithfield. The Black and Gold will be looking to avenge their loss from last season when the Crusaders defeated the Bulldogs, 1-0, in Worcester. Game time is set for 3 p.m.

For all the latest information on Bryant University women's soccer, visit BryantBulldogs.com