SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Kayleigh Ballantyne (Gorham, Maine) scored a pair of goals and added an assist as the Bryant University field hockey team earned a dominant 5-1 victory over Siena in the Northeast Conference opener for both teams on Sunday afternoon at the Bryant University Track and Turf Complex.

Having dropped four-straight, the Bulldogs (3-9, 1-0 NEC) began their playoff quest with their fifth win in as many tries against a winless Saints (0-9, 0-1 NEC) team. The game was just the second at home for the Black and Gold this season and they have won both.

Leading 1-0 at the half, Bryant broke the game open with four goals in the second half. They didn't waste any time either, scoring a pair of goals within the first 12 minutes. Ballantyne notched her first marker of the game just over two minutes into the half, knocking a rebound into a wide open cage. The lead grew to 3-0 just over 10 minutes later as Rosie Bird (Hamilton, New Zealand) recorded her eighth goal of the season. Bird received the ball in the circle and was able to sneak the ball past a crowd of Saints.

Less than eight minutes later, the Bulldogs continued to bulge the lead. Abigail Armstrong (Mahopac, N.Y.) started the play with the penalty corner and then alertly worked her way to the back post. Nicole Plante (Smithfield, R.I.) eventually found Armstrong and she tipped the ball into the back of the net to make it 4-0. Ballantyne capped the scoring with her second goal of the game with just 22 seconds left. Similar to Armstrong's score, Ballantyne found her way to the back post after starting the penalty corner and knocked a Michelle Fallon (Pompton Plains, N.J.) pass into the wide open net.

Ballantyne nearly had her first-career hat trick but settled for an assist on Bryant's first goal of the game. Siena had possession of the ball in front of its own cage but Molly Morrison (York, Maine) was able to force the turnover and set up Ballantyne right in front of the net. Ballantyne ripped a shot on cage that was partially stopped by Beth Myers but continued to roll towards the goal line. Just to make sure the ball found the back of the cage Morrison knocked it home from her stomach for her first goal of the season.

Bryant outshot Siena 21-7 in the contest although the teams were an even 8-8 in penalty corners. Ballantyne now leads the team with eight assists and Armstrong notched a goal and an assist. Megan Hancock (Skowhegan, Maine) made six saves to pick up her third win of the season.

The Bulldogs will now head to Worcester, Mass., to face Holy Cross on Tuesday, Oct. 9. It is the final non-conference game of the season for the Black and Gold.