Bulldogs drop heartbreaker, 4-3, in double OT

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – In a back-and-fourth match that needed two overtime periods to decide a victor, the Bryant University women's soccer team came up just short, falling to Wagner, 4-3, Friday afternoon at Bulldog Soccer Field.

Celebrating Senior Day 2013, the Bulldogs got on the board early in the form of an absolute rocket off the foot of senior midfielder Julie Vajda (Midland Park, N.J.) who fittingly enough granted Bryant the 1-0 lead after nearly four minutes of play.

The Seahawks responded in the 28th minute on Samantha Jensen's first tally of the afternoon on a beautiful shot to the opposite corner from inside the box. Nearly three minutes later, sophomores Allison DeBenedictis (Norwell, Mass.) and Caitlin Hannagen (Richboro, Pa.) hooked up for Bryant's second score as Hannagen dropped off a perfectly placed ball for DeBenedictis's first marker of the year.

Just before the half, sophomore Scout Benson (Lynnfield, Mass.) increased the Bulldog advantage with her first-career goal, beating multiple defenders en route to an emphatic score past Wagner keeper Katie Marcy.

Despite multiple scoring opportunities for the Black and Gold, the second half was all Wagner as Jensen cut the lead to just one in the 50th minute before Alyssa Willard knotted it up, 3-3, in the 78th minute.

In what appeared to be a Bryant dominated overtime, Jensen found a way to get free of her defender to complete the hat trick and lift the Seahawks to a 4-3 comeback win.

With the loss, the Bulldogs fall to 5-11-1 overall, 1-4-1 in Northeast Conference play. With just two matches remaining on its 2013 regular season schedule, Bryant will look to end the year on a high note, starting with LIU Brooklyn on Sunday (1 p.m.).

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