Bulldogs improve to 3-1 with 1-0 win over Fairfield to wrap up Yale Classic, Sunday afternoon

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – The Bryant University women's soccer team was in yet another battle on Sunday afternoon, but resiliency and perseverance allowed it to make a late push to set up a Jaden McCarthy (Smithfield, R.I.) goal in the 87th minute for the decider in a 1-0 victory over Fairfield.    

The Bulldogs (3-1) were evenly matched for much of the contest, placing nine shots on goal, as the Stag (1-3) fired off seven shots on target. Bryant earned three corners in the first half and two in the second, while Fairfield took one in the first and four in the second frame.

Both defenses were playing outstanding, making timely saves and forcing the offenses to make adjustments. As more and more time shaved off the clock, it looked as if the Bulldogs would be heading towards another overtime. But the intensity level rose when it mattered most, and the Black and Gold earned their fifth corner with just under three minutes remaining.

Sophomore Alison Guilmette (Coventry, R.I.) lined up for a critical set piece and she struck it beautifully. The ball landed directly in front of junior Hannah Crofut (East Amherst, N.Y.), who fired off a quick shot that was turned away, but McCarthy, the freshman defender, was in the right place at the right time to drive home the rebound.

Of the four goals the Bulldogs have scored this season, three have been netted by freshmen. Senior keeper Kaylan Conrad (Avon, Conn.) was a major contributor to Bryant's best four-game start since 2012. The fourth-year goalie made four saves over the final 10 minutes to keep her team in the game and then preserve the lead following the goal.

Guilmette fired off two shots on target to go along with her assist on the corner, and both Crofut and senior defender Abigail Smith (Kingston, N.H.) attempted two shots with one being on goal, as the former picked up her first point of the year. Conrad made a total of nine saves in her third shutout of the young season.

Brenna Brown paced the Stags with four shots on goal, and Cassidy Boegel followed with three shots, one being on target. Fairfield raddled of 19 shots on the afternoon, with nine being directed at Conrad.

The Bulldogs will try to make it a successful road trip when they wrap up the three-game stretch at UMass Lowell on Thursday, September 1 at 7:00 p.m.