October 25, 2009

BULLDOGS COMPLETE WEEKEND SWEEP WITH 2-0 SHUTOUT OVER QUINNIPIAC

Boxscore

SMITHFIELD, R.I. - Senior Tia Pydynkowski (Hampton Falls, N.H.) scored the game-winning goal while freshman Rachel Blitz (Riverwoods, Ill.) collected a pair of defensive saves to lead the Bryant University field hockey team to a 2-0 shutout of Northeast Conference foe Quinnipiac University Sunday afternoon at the Bryant Turf Complex.

The win gave the Bulldogs a weekend sweep after topping Siena on Friday night, 3-1, and moved Bryant (6-10) to a 3-4 conference mark.

Pydynkowski's eventual game winner came in the 38th minute off a shot from the top of the circle into the right side of the Bobcat (4-11, 3-3 NEC) net. The goal was the senior's second of the season and came unassisted.

Junior Elise Boissoneau (Ashburnham, Mass.) would tack on an insurance tally late in the second half, taking a pass from leading scorer Courtney Landi (Kingston, N.Y.) and sending the ball past Quinnipiac goalkeeper Jenna Grossman for a 2-0 lead that would stick. The goal came with a man-advantage for the Bulldogs after Bobcat midfielder Christine Grady was sent off with a yellow card with just 5:11 to play.

The game was closely contested throughout, with both sides playing tight defense in the opening frame to enter the halftime break in a scoreless deadlock. On the day, the Bulldogs edged the Bobcats in shots fired, 18-16, putting 12 shots on target. Bulldog goalie Kundayi  Mawema (Harare, Zimbabwe) made nine saves in her third shutout of the season, while Grossman made 10 between the pipes for Quinnipiac.

Bryant goes for its third-straight win when it next takes the field on Friday, Oct. 30, hosting Monmouth University at the Bryant Turf Complex (4 p.m.).