College Field Hockey
Bryant University 2, Rider University 1 (2 o.t./shoot out)
Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Game
SMITHFIELD, R.I.—The Rider University field hockey team found itself in a dog fight on Friday evening.
Make that a Bulldog fight.
Bryant University missed its first two penalty strokes but converted the last three, compared to one (of four) for Rider (by junior Dezarae Fillmyer) (Roebling/Florence) as the Bulldogs escaped with a 2-1 win over Rider in a double overtime game that was deceided by a shoot out.
“We played hard,” said head coach Lori Hussong. “We just didn't cash in on our opportunities. When you don't score, you aren't going to win the game. I'm disappointed with the result. We didn't stay poised and shoot well during the penalty strokes.”
“We gave it everything we had and tried our best,” said senior Alicia Govannicci. “When we were down, we just fought even harder and got the game tied. Things just didn't go our way at the end of the game.”
Rider was fortunate to make it to the shoot out after having two players carded off with five minute yellow card penalties, with five and three minutes remaining in the second overtime as the Broncs ended the game playing seven on five.
Fillmyer made a defensive save on the last play of the second overtime to send the game to a shoot out.
“We were fortunate to get out of the second overtime still tied,” Hussong said. “We were playing down two players and Dez made a great play.”
Govannicci (Springfield, Pa./Cardinal O'Hara) scored her second of the season, in about as clutch of a situation as she could, with four seconds remaining in regulation to force overtime.
“Alicia got the ball and dribbled to the middle of the field and she shoved it in the goal,” Hussong said. “It was a great play by a senior leader.”
“I just knew we had to score to keep the game going,” Govannicci remembered about the final play of regulation. “I just pushed the ball toward the goal and shot it and it went in.”
This isn't the only clutch goal of Govannicci's career. As a Rider rookie, she broke a scoreless tie with 3:01 left in the second half, giving Rider a 1-0 win in the 2010 Northeast Conference championship game over Monmouth University and she also scored the only goal of the game during her freshman season in Rider's 1-0 overtime win at Quinnipiac University.
Bryant received a five minute yellow card penalty with 15 seconds left in the second half that led to the game-tying play.
Bryant University junior Rosie Bird broke a scoreless tie with 9:26 remaining in the second half, her 12th of the season, converting a pass across the front of the cage, near the far post.
Bird and Rider rookie Nicole Hareau are tied for the conference lead with 12 goals. Hareau had three of Rider's 18 shots.
Rider (9-5, 1-1 MAAC) out-shot Bryant (9-4, 2-0 MAAC) 18-14 and the Broncs held a 16-10 penalty corner advantage.
Senior goalie Megan Hancock made nine saves for Bryant.
Sophomore goalie Joelle Prettyman (Newark, Del./St. Mark's) made four saves for Rider.
Rider had won all five meetings with the Bryant Bulldogs, including a 4-2 victory last year in Lawrenceville and a 6-0 win in Rhode Island in 2011 before tonight's game.
Rider is now 2-2 in overtime this season, with wins over Saint Joseph's University and Hofstra University.
Rider last went to a shoot out (formally called penalty strokes) on October 3, 2008 when Cinnaminson, New Jersey native Caitlin Mebs had the clinching penalty stroke as the Broncs defeated La Salle 2-1 in Lawrenceville.
The Broncs travel to Loudonville, New York to face winless Siena College on Sunday. The Saints lost at home to Monmouth, 3-2 Friday afternoon.
“Siena is a dangerous team,” said Hussong. “Their losses this year have all been close and they are on the verge of making some things happen. We are going to have to play well. Even with one conference loss, our backs are against the wall but we've been in this position before and we just have to continue working hard and do the best we can to get the team going.”
“We have to take each game with a positive attitude,” Govannicci added. “We need to keep working hard and correct the mistakes we made in tonight's game.”
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