Oct. 22, 2010

BULLDOGS DROPPED BY QUINNIPIAC, 1-0, ON SENIOR DAY AT BULLDOG STADIUM

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Playing in windy and cold conditions, the Bryant University women's soccer team was unable to win its last home game of the season, falling to Quinnipiac, 1-0, on senior day at Bulldog Stadium Friday afternoon.

Steph Del Mistro (East Williston, N.Y.) and Sarah Donovan (Storrs, Conn.) were the pair of seniors honored before the Northeast Conference contest.

With the loss, the Bulldogs fall to 5-10-2 on the season and 3-3-1 in the NEC while the Bobcats improve to 5-6-3 overall and 3-2-3 in the conference.

Seniors Sarah Donovan and Steph Del Mistro were honored prior to the game Friday afternoon.

The elements proved to be default for both teams as swirling winds disrupted long crosses and shots, resulting in a scoreless first half. Bryant, however, managed to get four shots on target in the first stanza including a hard one-touch strike from Jennifer Harding (Lancaster, Mass.) on a cross from Del Mistro that went right into the arms of Bobcat keeper Jillian Kelley.

Following the break, it was Quinnipiac's turn to go in the offensive, going with the wind to record 14 shots in the second half.

The Bobcats scored the lone tally of the game in the 61st minute on a goal by sophomore Jillian Strassner. Teammate Meagan McLoughlin setup the play with a pass from midfield to a sprinting Strassner who drove down the left flank and floated a shot over the head of keeper Kelsi Jacob (Mahwah, N.J,).

The best chance for Bryant in the second half came in the 65th minute when sophomore Kaitlyn Fare (Milstone Township, N.J.) ripped a shot from 15-feet out , only to curve over the heads of a group Bobcat defenders and bend just wide of the right post.  

Quinnipiac looked to score several more times in the final minutes of the contest but Jacob came up with a number of key stops to preserve the score, including a charging save from point blank range to cut off a breakaway from junior Furtuna Velaj.

Jacob finished with seven saves in the contest for Bryant while Kelley stopped five for Quinnipiac.

The Black and Gold return to action on Sunday, Oct. 24 when they travel to Central Connecticut at 3:00 p.m.