Short-distance goals hinder Bulldogs in Sunday’s 2-1 loss to Hartford

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – After conceding the opening goal just three minutes into the game, the Bryant University women's soccer team battled back to tie the game in the first half, but fell victim to a pair of unassisted goals in the box and fell to Hartford, 2-1, Sunday afternoon in Smithfield.

The Hawks (6-3) wasted little time jumping out in front on the Northeast Conference's top scoring defense. Just three minutes in, Tori Tripp ended up with the ball in the box and muscled for the ball with a pair of Bulldog (4-5) defenders. She won possession, slid and sent a sudden strike to the high near post from the left side that caught senior Kaylan Conrad (Avon, Conn.) off guard.

After the initial goal, the Bulldogs began to take control of the opening half and rifled off the next six shots. Junior Haley Reddish (Natick, Mass.) attempted two of those attempts, as it was her second that found the back of the net. Freshman Remi Manna (Pleasantville, N.Y.) made a run down the left wing and sent a low-swinging cross into the box. The ball got through a handful of bodies and found Reddish on the right side of the box, as the junior kicked it hard enough and just before a diving Jessica Jurg could make the stop.

Though the hosts dominated most of the first half with seven shots, four being on target, the Hawks nearly took a lead into the break with 30 seconds remaining. Ashley Claud got slight separation, elevated her right leg and attempted a shot from just inside the box, but Conrad met her at the spot of the ball and stopped it from getting any further.

Hartford came out with a sense of urgency in the second half, blazing eight of their nine second-frame shots over the first 20 minutes. Though Bryant placed four of its five shots in the stanza on goal, the barrage of attempts ended with the only score of the half. Kaila Lozada ended up with the ball beyond midfield followingc a Jurg goal kick and dribbled into the box. Much like the first goal, there was a fight for possession, Lozada won the ball and softly sent a low shot to the far post from the left side, as Conrad was not in a great position due to the traffic and scuffle.

It was the final Hawks shot of the game, but it was all they needed. The Bulldogs made a final push in the closing 10 minutes, sending a pair of shots on net, but both were saved with ease. The Bulldogs earned their first corner with less than five minutes remaining. Sophomore Alison Guilmette (Coventry, R.I.) lofted a wonderful ball into the box, Reddish got a shoulder on it and was able to direct it to goal, but Jurg was there to settle it in her hands.  

Reddish paced Bryant with her first goal of the year, as she attempted a contest-best four shots, three on goal. Senior Quinn Massaroni (East Greenbush, N.Y.) had two shots with one on goal, while four other Bulldogs had a shot on net and Conrad made four stops in the loss.

Julia Carr matched Reddish with four shots, two on frame. Tripp launched two shots with one being the first goal. In addition to Lozada, two other Hawks sent shots on target. Jurg made seven stops in picking up her sixth win.

The Bulldogs close out their non-conference slate on the road when they travel to St. Bonaventure for a 2:00 p.m. start on Friday, September 24.