BULLDOGS DROP THIRD-STRAIGHT AGAINST RIDER SUNDAY

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Despite three-point effort's from junior Kayleigh Ballantyne (Gorham, Maine) and sophomore Abigail Armstrong (Mahopac, N.Y.), the Bryant University field hockey team fell to Rider, 4-2, Sunday afternoon.

The Bulldogs, who began Northeast Conference play with two-straight wins, suffer their third NEC loss of the season, falling to 5-12 overall, while the Broncs improve to 11-5 on the year.

Rider wasted little time chalking up an early lead, recording two goals in the first 7 minutes of play. At the 5:30 mark, Sandra Penas tipped in an attempt off a penalty corner from Allison Muschs to grant the home team the 1-0 advantage. Less than two minutes later Penas tallied her second marker of the contest from teammate Marlaine Schneider to double the lead to 2-0.

The Bulldogs would cut the advantage in half at the 29:06 mark when Armstrong tipped in a penalty corner. Ballantyne slide the penalty corner to senior Brittany Vasconcelos (Tiverton, R.I.) who fired a shot toward the goal where Armstrong tipped the ball past keeper Joelle Prettyman.

The Broncs added two quick scores just after halftime, the first coming at the 41:20 mark off a Blast from Schneider, with the second less than three minutes later from Gabby Burgo.

Ballantyne recorded a score of her own at the 53:11 mark off a pass from Armstrong to cut the lead to 4-2, however the Rider would hold on to secure their 11th victory of the season.

Rider outshot the Bulldogs, 23-9, while Bryant keeper Megan Hancock (Skowhegan, Maine) made six saves in the contest.

Bryant enters its final week of its 2012 slate, heading to Sacred Heart on Friday, before hosting Quinnipiac on Sunday in its season finale.

For all the latest news on Bryant University field hockey, visit BryantBulldogs.com.