October 24, 2010

HAWKS PICK OFF BULLDOGS IN DOUBLE OVERTIME, 1-0; BRYANT IMPRESSES ON DEFENSE BUT CAN'T FIND NET ON THE ROAD

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – The Bryant University field hockey team struggled offensively but was a force to be reckoned with on defense, holding Monmouth scoreless for more than 88 minutes Sunday afternoon on the road before finally giving up the game winner in double overtime to fall, 1-0, at So Sweet A Cat Field.

Bryant (6-11, 3-2 Northeast Conference) withstood a 17-shot performance by the Hawks (13-3, 5-0) through regulation and then some, paced by a nine-save outing from junior netminder Jennifer Gullotti (Waltham, Mass.) that kept the home side off the board. But early in the 89th minute, the Bulldogs would finally break when Michelle Pieczynski tucked the rebound of a Kimmy Baligian shot inside the left post to snap a scoreless deadlock and notch the game winner just 3:08 into the second overtime.

Baligian's six shots led both teams on the day while Pieczynski fired five shots with all of them going on target for the Hawks. The Bulldogs got off just a pair of shots in the four-frame outing, one apiece coming from juniors Katherine Andrusin (North Andover, Mass.) and Courtney Landi (Kingston, N.Y.). Neither would go on goal.

Sophomore defender Rachel Blitz (Riverwoods, Ill.) recorded her team-leading third defensive save 8:35 into the second half to help keep Monmouth off the board, fending off a shot from Baligian at the 43:35 mark of the contest. Bryant would be awarded just three penalty corners to 12 for the home side in a win that keeps the Hawks undefeated in 2010 league action.

Bryant now returns to Smithfield, R.I. to play for one final time at home. The Bulldogs will host NEC rival Quinnipiac at the Bryant Turf Complex on Friday, Oct. 29 at 7 p.m. to celebrate 2010 Senior Day before wrapping up the season on the road at Sacred Heart (Oct. 31).