Freshmen Lead The Way in 12-8 Loss At Bryant

Freshmen Alexa Smead, Ashley Perkoski and Ashley Mara led the way for Central Connecticut, with two points each, as the Blue Devils fell to Bryant 12-8 on the road Wednesday night. Smead and Perkoski scored two goals, while Mara tallied one goal and one assist in the defeat.

Bryant got off to a quick start as they scored the first two goals of the game within the first five minutes of play. With only 12 seconds coming off the clock senior Lauren Albert finished off an assist from freshman Mary Green to put the Bulldogs up 1-0. Freshman Lauren Sheridan tallied the second goal of the game on an unassisted score with just over 25 minutes to play in the opening period.

CCSU countered with two goals of their own as sophomore Kacey Bisienere and freshman Ashley Mara put away goals to tie the game at two with 12:48 to play in the half. A minute and a half later Albert scored unassisted to spark a four goal Bryant run to take a 6-2 lead.

The Blue Devils fought back to a 6-4 score after goals from freshmen Alexa Smead and Ashley Perkoski, but it was Bryant who got the last score of the opening frame as junior Allison Faiola scored with only 16 seconds remaining to put the Bulldogs up 7-4 at the half.

Central Connecticut goalkeeper Alice Lee only had to make four saves in the first half, while Bryant goalie Jessica Bolton stopped 12 shots.

CCSU and Bryant traded goals throughout the first 15 minutes of the second half as the Blue Devils trailed 10-7 with 17:31 remaining in the game. Junior Courtney Mooney, Perkoski and sophomore Michele Conway scored goals during the stretch.

After a 10 minute span with no scoring, Faiola scored one goal and assisted on another to give the Bulldogs a five goal lead with 6:51 left in the game. Smead would score once more but it would not be enough as Bryant held on for the 12-8 victory.

Lee recorded nine saves on the night, while Bolton finished with 20 for the Bulldogs. The Blue Devils held the advantage in shots and ground balls with 34 and 23, respectively. Bryant managed 27 shots and 18 ground balls, while holding a 15-7 edge in draw controls in the game.

Central Connecticut falls to 0-10 this season and will next host Northeast Conference foes Mount St. Mary's and Monmouth on Friday and Sunday. Bryant improves to 3-6 this year and will next play at Quinnipiac on Friday at 4:00 p.m.