April 26, 2007

LEDDY LIFTS BRYANT WOMEN TO 16-15 WIN OVER MERRIMACK IN TRIPLE OT

SMITHFIELD, R.I.  -  Senior Shaun Leddy (Sea Girt, NJ) scored four goals including the game-winner with 26 seconds left in the third overtime frame to lift the Bryant women's lacrosse team to a thrilling 16-15 win over Merrimack College on a cold and windy evening at the Bryant Turf Complex.  The win gives Bryant (9-4, 7-3 NE-10) a home game in the quarterfinal round next Wednesday, likely against Merrimack.  The Bulldogs will host Adelphi in a nonconference game Saturday for Senior Day at Bulldog Stadium.

Against Merrimack (8-5, 5-3 NE-10), the Bulldogs bounced back from an 8-7 deficit and pick up their second-straight win in dramatic fashion.  The Bulldogs let a 12-9 lead midway through the second half slip away as Merrimack battled back behind goals from Mia Basile and Amanda Simeone and took a 14-13 lead on another goal from Mia Basile with 2:48 left in regulation. 

Bryant's Caitlin Hansen would force overtime with a goal with just 16 seconds left in regulation to make it 14-14.  In the first overtime, Amanda Gallant scored to give Bryant a 15-14 lead but Simeone would answer with just 15 seconds left in the second overtime period to knot the score at 15-15 and force a sudden-victory third period. 

In the third extra session, Leddy picked up a loose ball and wheeled around the Merrimack goal and beat Warrior goalie Amanda DiNitto with a high shot to give the Bulldogs the win.