SMITHFIELD, R.I. - Powered by three first-half goals, the Bryant University field hockey team moved backed to .500 on the season, blanking Patriot League opponent Colgate University, 4-0, on Saturday, Sept. 24, kicking off Homecoming Weekend with an exciting victory.

Rookie sensation Rosie Bird (Hamilton, New Zealand) added back-to-back goals, including a penalty stroke goal at 10:59, to match her previous career-high set against Maine on Sept. 4, while sophomore Chiedza Mawema (Harare, Zimbabwe) earned a career-high three points on as many assists to propel the Bulldogs (4-4) to their fourth win in five tries.  The Raiders (3-6) held an 11-6 advantage in penalty corners, but sophomore goalkeeper Megan Hancock (Skowhegan, Maine) posted her first clean sheet of the year, improving to 3-1 on the season by virtue of a four-save effort.

After Colgate strung together the first few scoring chances of the game, Bryant pushed the momentum back in its favor, culminating with a foul on an open scoring chance in the circle just after the 10-minute mark, resulting in a penalty stroke.  Bird was chosen to take the stroke, and sent a blistering shot past Colgate netminder Amanda DiDomizio (five saves), giving the home team the early lead.

Nearly 10 minutes later, Mawema hooked up with Bird for her team-leading ninth goal of the season, taking a pass into the circle and flicking it over DiDomizio and into the net.  After some deliberation, the referees deemed the goal to be good, as the Bulldogs doubled their lead at 2-0.

After Bryant was awarded a penalty corner late in the half, senior tri-captain Emily Charpentier (Walpole, Mass.) buried a second-chance shot after Mawema fired the ball on net, pushing the Black and Gold's lead to 3-0 on the Massachusetts native's third career marker.

Following the end of the first half, both teams fought an even battle through the first 20 minutes of the second stanza.  Colgate held a 7-4 advantage in shots attempted, including a 7-3 advantage in penalty corners, but Hancock was aided by a strong defensive corps, with junior defender Rachel Blitz (Riverwoods, Ill.) leading the way with a pair of defensive saves, upping her team-leading season total to six.

With just over 10 minutes to go in regulation, junior Brittany Vasconcelos (Tiverton, R.I.) iced the game with her second tally of the season, poking home a loose ball on a scrum following a penalty corner, with Mawema being the last Bulldog to get a stick on the biscuit before finding the back of the cage.  With that goal in hand, Colgate mustered a few last-minute chances, but would not convert, as the Bulldogs walked off with the win in front of a crowd of 120 fans and alumni.

The Black and Gold will not have long to celebrate, as they head to Cambridge, Mass. tomorrow afternoon for a date with Harvard at Jordan Field.  Game time is set for 2 p.m.

For continuing coverage of Bryant field hockey, check back at www.bryantbulldogs.com, and follow the Bulldogs on Twitter @BryantAthletics.