Guilmette, Bulldogs start season with 3-0 win over URI

KINGSTON, R.I. – Junior Alison Guilmette (Coventry, R.I.) recorded a goal and an assist in just 11 minutes in the first half, and the Bryant University women's soccer team's offense was off and running in a 3-0 defeat of Rhode Island in the 2017 season opener on Friday night.

GAME INFORMATION

Bryant 3, Rhode Island 0

Records: Bryant (1-0), Rhode Island (0-1)

Location: URI Soccer Complex (Kingston, R.I.)

COACH BIGGS' COMMENTS

"For the team, there's a validation of the work they've put in during the offseason and through the preseason… I think we were able to use the wide parts of the field very well. The ball Alison [Guilmette] set up for Spitaleri was something we've been working on in terms of turning the corner and delivering a good cross and it was nice to see Amanda finish and get off to a good start in her first game."

KEY MOMENT

●     After a back and forth affair in the first 21 minutes, Guilmette got Bryant's offense going quickly in a span of 11 minutes. First, she got free on the left side of the box and crossed to the middle, finding freshman Amanda Spitaleri (Ronkonkoma, N.Y.) for her first goal as a Bulldog. Then just eleven minutes later, Guilmette scored one of her own, directly from a corner kick, doubling Bryant's lead.

SCORING SUMMARY

●     22nd minute – Bryant 1, URI 0 – Guilmette crossed from the left edge of the box into the area, where the head of Spitaleri was waiting, and she tucked it home at the near post for her first career goal.
●     33rd minute -- Bryant 2, URI 0 -- Guilmette added to her point haul, putting her corner from the right side directly into the far corner, doubling the Bulldogs' lead.
●     57th minute -- Bryant 3, URI 0 -- Senior Haley Reddish (Natick, Mass.) received the ball just outside the box and struck it into the top corner at the far post.

STATS/NOTES

●     The Bulldogs are now 3-1-1 in their last five season openers.
●     Shots finished even at 13, with Bryant holding an advantage in shots on goal 10-7.
●     Senior Rachel Brightman (Rochester, N.Y.) and freshman Meghan Dalton (West Hartford, Conn.) combined for seven saves in the clean sheet. Dalton's two saves were the first of her career.
●     The Black and Gold were persistent in the attacking third all night, compiling eight corner kicks.
●     Three Bulldogs (Reddish, Spitaleri and Hannah Crofut (East Amherst, N.Y.)) recorded two shots on goal each.
●     Bryant recorded its first win over Rhode Island at the URI Soccer Complex and its second overall against the Rams.
●     This is the second time in Bryant's DI history it has scored three goals in a season opener. The last was its first game at the NCAA's top division in 2008.
●     It is also just the fourth time in four years the Black and Gold have tallied 3+ goals in a game. It took them 16 matches to accomplish the feat last season.

UP NEXT
Bryant opens up its home schedule in 2017 with a Wednesday bout against UMass Lowell at 3:00 p.m. at the Bulldog Soccer Field.