September 20, 2009

Box Score

WOMEN'S SOCCER DROPS HARD FOUGHT GAME WITH NJIT, 3-2

SMITHFIELD, R.I. - Despite allowing a goal within the first seven minutes of each half, the Bryant University women's soccer team battled against the New Jersey Institution of Technology (NJIT), but fell just short losing, 3-2, at Bulldog Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

The game's first tally in the 5th minute came off a through-ball sent by Gechi Okaegbu between two Bulldog defenders to Kori Washington who was able to beat Bryant's freshman goalie Kelsi Jacob (Mahwah, N.J.), who was making the first start of her collegiate career. The Bulldogs (2-5) kept the pressure on the Highlanders (3-3-1) and were able to net their first goal in the 21st minute when freshman Morgan Derick (Ashland, Mass.) passed a ball by the Highlanders' keeper to sophomore Kaitlyn Hinck (Bow, N.H.) who converted the tally into the open net.

The second half started very similar to the first, as Highlander freshman Erin Morris scored off a cross from Millie Motta only seven minutes into the half. Once again the Bulldogs fought back and were able to tie the game again in the 57th minute, coming only five minutes after the Highlanders goal. Junior Sarah Donovan (Storrs, Conn.) was able to settle a ball that had been deflected around the box and beat NJIT keeper Sadie Mele to her left. The score remained at two goals apiece until the 75th minute when Highlander midfielder Christi Taylor played a corner kick back to her teammate Amanda Dotten. The freshman took a long range shot from approximately 30 yards out and was able to send it over the head of the Bulldog keeper perfectly below the crossbar and into the left side netting. That goal would turn out to be the final tally of the game but it was certainly not the last of the action.

Within the last four minutes of the contest, Bryant forward Morgan Derick recorded three shots, including one that the game's referees needed to stop play and discuss if the shot was a goal or not. The discussion was over whether or not the Highlander goalie had possession of the ball before she had crossed the goal line. The refs ruled in favor of the Highlanders, stating the goalie had possession before she was knocked back into the net and the game concluded with a score of 3-2.

The Bulldogs outshot their opponents by a margin of 23-9. Freshman goalie Kelsi Jacob recorded four saves in her first collegiate start.

The Bulldogs have a 12-day break before hosting last year NCAA tournament and member of the Northeast Conference Central Connecticut on Friday, Oct. 2 at 7 p.m. at the Bryant Turf Complex.