Women's Soccer NE-10 Quarterfinal
October 24, 2006
BRYANT DEFEATS MERRIMACK 2-1 IN NE-10
QUARTERFINALS
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| Diane Pascale scored both goals in Bryant's 2-1 win over
Merrimack in Tuesday's Northeast-10 Conference quarterfinal game at
Bulldog Stadium. http://www.dspics.com/
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SMITHFIELD, RI - Bryant University junior Diane Pascale
(Plymouth, MA) scored two goals including the game-winner in the
81st minute as the fourth-seeded Bulldogs defeated
Merrimack College, 2-1 in a Northeast-10 Conference Quarterfinal
round match on a cold and blustery afternoon at Bulldog Stadium.
Merrimack, the No. 5 seed of the tournament, falls to 13-5-1
on the season.
With the win, Bryant will advance to the Northeast-10 Conference
semifinals where they'll face top-ranked Saint Rose Friday.
Tied 1-1 with the regulation clock winding down, the Bulldogs
finally broke through the Warrior defense as Danielle
Malta (Bethel, CT) gathered a loose ball
from the midfield circle and fed a cutting Pascale with a precise
pass down the left side behind the Warrior defense. Pascale,
who entered the game with five game-winning goals, blasted a low
shot for her sixth game-winner sending the Bulldogs to the
semifinals.
The win for Bryant (14-6-1) avenges last year's first round loss
to Merrimack as the Bulldogs have tied the school record for wins
in a season.
Bryant, the No. 4 seed of the tournament, struck first in the
early going, applying pressure on the Merrimack defense.
Pascale appeared to have put the Bulldogs
ahead in the sixth minute, but her header off a corner kick was
ruled offside. But a few minutes later, Pascale would not be
denied as she picked up a loose ball after battling Merrimack
goalie Cait Stephan and tucked away the game's first goal.
While the Bulldogs dominated in the early going, Merrimack
started to spread the field with crisp passing and started to apply
pressure on the Bryant defense.
Just as Bryant had a goal called back, the the Warriors had what
would have been the equalizer called back after whistled for
offsides. But in the 18th minute, Heather Carr tied the game
with a goal after taking a nice feed from Jennifer Conway to tie
the game 1-1.
It was Carr's second goal of the season.
In the second half, the Bulldogs took advantage of a strong wind
to their backs in dominating much of the play on the Warriors
side. Alaina Iannazzi missed converting on a cornerkick by
the Bulldogs with 15 minutes remaining in the second half, but her
shot went wide past the left post.
Moments later, Pascale would assure Bryant's playoff drive would
continue with the game-winner.
Earlier in the day, the Bulldogs moved up to fourth in the NCAA
Division II Northeast Region Rankings, with the Warriors being
ranked fifth. The top-four ranked teams will advance to the NCAA
Tournament.
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