Box Score HANOVER, N.H. – The Bryant University field hockey team struck for two late goals in the final 10 minutes of regulation, but could not rally from a five-goal deficit, falling to Dartmouth College, 5-2, on Sunday afternoon at Chase Field. Bryant falls to 2-4 on the season, as Dartmouth improves to 4-2.
Freshman forward Rosie Bird (Hamilton, New Zealand) took a loose ball in the box and ripped it into the lower right corner of the cage to get the Bulldogs aboard at 60:06, earning her sixth goal of the season in the process. The rookie phenom is averaging a goal per game through Bryant's first six games in 2011.
Nearly six minutes later, sophomore Kayleigh Ballantyne (Gorham, Maine) received a pass across the circle from classmate Mallory Hancock (Skowhegan, Maine) and buried it near the right post to cut Dartmouth's lead to three, but it was too little, too late, as the Big Green ended Bryant's two-game winning streak heading into the day.
Senior goaltender Jennifer Gullotti (Waltham, Mass.) earned her third start in net this season, recording 11 saves while facing 29 shots, 18 of which were on target. Meagan Vakiener started the game for Dartmouth, while Jenna Stearns replaced her for the second half, collecting one save while allowing a pair of goals. The Bryant backline stepped up big on a number of occasions during wild scrums, with the Bulldogs recording two defensive saves on the game.
The Bulldogs were outshot, 29-8, while Dartmouth held an 8-1 advantage in penalty corners.
Ali Savage had a big game for the home team, turning in a hat trick on markers in the 28th, 41st and 60th minute. Meghan Everett opened up the scoring with an unassisted strike at 24:34, shooting a loose ball in the circle past Gullotti for the early lead. Three minutes later, Savage took a pass from Janine Leger and shot it low in the circle for her first goal of the game. Bryant was within striking distance at halftime, down only two despite being outshot 17-4.
The Big Green put the game out of reach with three straight markers to open up the second half, with Savage finding the back of the cage at 40:10 off a rebound for her second tally of the day. Kelly Hood added to that lead when she deflected a long shot from Olivia Quaglia past the goalkeeper, and Savage rounded out the home team's scoring ten minutes later when she put home a loose ball in the circle after a Bryant team save.
The Bulldogs will head back to the Ocean State and look to rebound against Brown University on Tuesday, Sept. 20 in Providence. Game time is set for 4 p.m.
For continuing coverage of Bryant field hockey, check back at www.bryantbulldogs.com, and follow the Bulldogs on Twitter @BryantAthletics.
