SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Thanks to a late winner from senior Cayla D’Amico (Grafton, Mass.), the Bryant University women’s soccer team earned its first win of the season on Thursday afternoon over Rhode Island.

Game Information

Bryant 2, Rhode Island 1

Records: Bryant 1-1-0, Rhode Island 0-2-0

Location: Bulldog Soccer Field

Coach Biggs' Comments

“I thought our team showed a lot of character to come back from a goal down to tie the game before the half. We were able to use that momentum to create good pressure in the second half and score the game-winner just minutes from the end.”

Key Moment

Freshman Kellie Errasti (Duxbury, Mass.) was able to fire a long ball down the right side to D’Amico, who fought off a Rhode Island defender and hit a left-footed shot on frame that was sent right back to her and her second shot was lifted over the keeper and in.

Scoring Summary

5^th minute – Rhode Island 1, Bryant 0 - In a weird sequence of events, sophomore Jamie Irwin (Succasunna, N.J.) played the ball back on a free kick and freshman Chae Diani (Milton, Mass.) was not ready for it. This allowed Brooke Osmanski to go clean in on Dalton to give the Rams the lead.

35^th minute – Bryant 1, Rhode Island 1 – Junior Arin Smalls (Marlborough, Mass.) flicked a long ball towards the 18, where freshman Lexi Kraemer (Forest Hill, Md.) was able to get in behind and slot it bottom corner to level the proceedings.

87^th minute – Bryant 2, Rhode Island 1 – The deciding moment as Irwin was able to earn possession back for the Bulldogs and allow Errasti to play it long, setting the stage for D’Amico to take all three points.

Stats/Notes

The Bulldogs have defeated Rhode Island in back to back meetings for the first time since 1982.

Bryant won their first game against Rhode Island in Smithfield since 2013.

Irwin and senior Rachel Benz (Stamford, Conn.) made their first starts of the season for the Bulldogs.

Sophomore Meghan Dalton (West Hartford, Conn.) made seven saves in the contest, including four in the second 45 minutes, to keep Rhode Island off the board.

Dalton’s seven saves are a new career high.

Kraemer’s goal, the first of her career, came eight minutes after her first career shot.

Smalls added her third career assist on the goal and her first in 2018.

Up Next

Bryant welcomes Fairfield to Smithfield for a 3 p.m. kickoff on August 30 to continue their season-opening homestand.