Women's soccer falls to Sacred Heart, 2-1

TWO FIRST-HALF GOALS TOO MUCH TO OVERCOME FOR BULLDOGS

SMITHFIELD, R.I. -- Paced by two first-half goals from Dana Cosmedy, Sacred Heart defeated the Bryant University women's soccer team, 2-1, Friday evening.

The Bulldogs (8-8) fall to 3-4 in the NEC with the loss, while the Pioneers earn three points to draw even with Bryant in the conference standings.

The Pioneers were able to take advantage of a sloppy first half by the Bulldogs, registering two scores within 90 seconds of each other. The first came at the 11:04 mark, when Cosmedy collected her own shot attempt off the post to head in the rebound over the head of Bryant keeper Lauren Viverito (Dayton, N.J.). Cosmedy added her second marker just over 90 seconds later to grant the home team an early 2-0 advantage.

"At halftime I told the team we need to respond within the first ten minutes," said Bryant head coach Chris Flint. "And fortunately, we were able to."

Junior Shana Follette (Plymouth, Mass.) received a pass from senior Kaitlyn Fare (Millstone Township, N.J.) in the box to beat Pioneer keeper Sydney Judkins. The marker gives Follette a team-high six goals on the season.

In the final 35 minutes of play, Bryant had multiple scoring opportunities but was unable to net the equalizer.

"Overall it was a very frustrating night," added Flint. "We played well in the second half, but the deficit was too much to overcome."

"We didn't do a good enough job clearing the ball in our defensive third (in the first half). We allowed the ball to bounce too much and we just weren't patient enough."

Despite outshooting their opponents, 9-6, the Bulldogs drop to .500 with three matches remaining on their 2012 slate.

"With each passing game that you don't win, the next one becomes even more important," said Flint. "We need a win on Sunday if we want to remain in the mix."

The Bulldogs head back to Smithfield for a showdown with Fairleigh Dickinson Sunday at 12 p.m.

For links to live stats of Sunday's match and all the latest news on Bryant University women's soccer, visit BryantBulldogs.com.