Smithfield, R.I. -  The Bryant University Field Hockey team came up with its best performance of the season, shutting out first-place Merrimack 2-0 Thursday night at the Bryant Turf Complex.

Co-captain Laynie Sadler (Rehoboth, Mass.) scored both goals, her team-leading fourth and fifth of the season.

In her first action of the season, junior Kasey Kortz (Louisville, KY) stopped three shots and picked up the shutout.

Sadler got the Bulldogs off to a great start, finding the rebound off a Caitlan Johnson (Walpole, Mass) shot and firing it past Warrior goaltender Amy Larrabee, in just the fourth minute.

The Bulldogs played excellent defense throughout, led by Kristin Tighe (North Easton, Mass.), as the Warriors had very few scoring opportunities in the match.

Sadler put the game away with under three minutes to play, one-timing a Courtney O'Brien (Tewksbury, Mass.) crossing pass into the net. Michaela Dwyer (Buskirk, N.Y.), who started O'Brien's break with a perfect pass, picked up the second assist on the goal.

The Bulldogs (4-5, 4-3 NE-10) look to make it two in a row when they Assumption Saturday (1 p.m.).                        

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