Strong second half comes up short in Bulldog’s 1-0 loss to Quinnipiac Wednesday

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – The Bryant University women's soccer team went toe-to-toe with its former Northeast Conference rival, but could not net an equalizer over the final 70 minutes and fell to Quinnipiac at home, 1-0, on Wednesday afternoon.

The pace of play was set by both teams early on, as the Bobcats (4-1-1) won the first corner just 58 seconds in and the second of their third set piece less than nine minutes into the game. But the Bulldogs (3-3) and sophomore Alison Guilmette (Coventry, R.I.) took little time to set their own tone, with great runs and an aggressive style.

The high-paced action would prove to benefit the visitors in the 19th minute. Following a dispossession near midfield, Jess Fontaine won her team the ball and sent a pass while sliding forward to Nadya Gill. The Bobcats leading scorer zipped up the middle of the Bryant defense, got into the box and chipped the ball over a charging Kaylan Conrad (Avon, Conn.) into the back of the net.  

It was the first real test for Conrad, and though she allowed the first score, she made up for it by keeping her team in the game in the 24th minute. Al Pelletier had just subbed in for Quinnipiac and got free in the box less than a minute later by using her fresh legs. She received a pass just 10 yards out, turned and shot but was met by Conrad for the key stop.

The Bulldogs and Bobcats matched one another with six shots in the first half and two on goal, but only one tally before the break.

After conceding all three of the first-half corners, the hosts came out inspired in the second frame and earned a pair of corners just seven minutes in, both separated by only a minute.

The urgency and pressure was still high, and after a handball against Quinnipiac in the 59th minute, the Bulldogs lined up for a free kick from just outside the box. Junior Hannah Crofut (East Amherst, N.Y.) sent a hard strike directed at Devan Malcolm, who made the save. The keeper could not handle the save, however, as fellow junior Haley Reddish (Natick, Mass.) controlled the rebound just five yards out, but sent a quick shot wide left of the near post.

It was the best chance that either side would have over the final 30 minutes, as shots were sent wide or blocked and the backline of the visitors elevated its play, keeping Bryant off the scoreboard.

Conrad made four saves in the loss, as her defense did a great job of holding the nation's 21st best scoring offense to one goal. Junior backs Brigitte Donaghy (Toronto, Ont.) and Amber Thomas (Rochester, N.Y.) played 90 and 77 minutes, respectively. Guilmette paced the Bulldogs on offense with three shots, one on frame. Crofut and Reddish each attempted a pair of shots, and senior Melaina Aglieco (Rocky Hill, Conn.) and freshman Marissa Grasso (Shelton, Conn.) had one shot on target.

Gill had three shots on net to charge the Bobcat attack, followed by Ally Grunstein with one on goal on three shots and Pelletier with a pair of attempts. Fontaine had two shot attempts to go along with her assist, and Malcolm had identical numbers to Conrad posting two saves in each half.

The Bulldogs will look to put a stop to their two-game losing streak and get back to over .500 when they host Maine on Friday at 4:00 p.m.