Bulldogs suffer setback at Blue Devils, drop Friday night’s match, 3-0

SMITHFIELD, R.I. -- The Bryant University women's soccer team was limited to just five shots with three on target and allowed a season-high three goals in Friday night's 3-0 loss at Central Connecticut State University.

The Bulldogs (6-7, 2-1) suffered their first conference loss of the season, as the Blue Devils (4-8-1, 2-0) move into first play in the Northeast Conference and are winners of two straight.

The Blue Devils struck first in the 14th minute on a free kick taken by Kelly Halligan. Bryant was whistled for a foul about 5 yards in front of the far left corner flag along the goal line. She struck it beautifully into the box and found Danielle Pearse, who headed it to the upper right corner passed a diving Kaylan Conrad (Avon, Conn.).

Bryant did not get its first shot on net until the 31st minute, as junior Haley Reddish (Natick, Mass.) ripped a right-footed shot from over 25 yards out, but Nicki Turley made and easy save.

Just 50 seconds later later, CCSU netted its second exquisite goal to double-up the Bulldogs. Alex Schafer played a short pass to Lexi Kochin around midfield about 15 yards up. Kochin took one dribble forward and ripped a shot from nearly 30 yards to the upper right 90, just passed an outstretched Conrad.

Bryant's best chance of the contest came in the 36th minute on a ball played into the box following a free kick. Freshman Caitlyn Linden (Newtown, Conn.) headed it to the near post, but Turely made the stop from seven yards out.

The Blue Devils continued to hammer the Bulldogs with immense pressure to start the second half, and found a third goal just four minutes in. Carla Jackson lined up for a corner in the 49th minute, sent it into the box, but Bryant cleared momentarily. She stayed with the ball, controlled it 20 yards out on the far left wing, took one dribble to the right and struck a rocket that found its way into the back of the net, right post.

The Bulldogs had just two shots from there, as the Blue Devils played awesome defense and earned their second-straight shutout.

Five different Bulldogs had shot attempts in the loss, as Reddish, Linden and sophomore Alex Ralph (Peterborough, Ont.) had one shot on goal apiece. Conrad made just one save in the loss, as junior Rachel Brightman (Rochester, N.Y.) played the final 24:08 in goal and made two stops.

Pearse paced the hosts with three shots, two on net, while Kelsey Dornfried added two with one on target. The Blue Devils outshot the Bulldogs, 11-6, and had six corners compared to just one. Turley made three saves in the win.

The Bulldogs will try to regroup and keep pace in the NEC when they travel to Mount St. Mary's for a 4:00 p.m. start on Friday, October, 14.