Grange Kicks her Way into Bryant Record Books

SMITHFIELD, R.I. - With her goal on October 11, 2006, Casey Grange (Methuen, Mass.) entered the Bryant record books as the all-time women's soccer leader for goals in a season (14) and in a career (35).

Trailing 1-0 to St. Anselm, Grange tied the score with one minute to play in the half, scoring from 20-yards out, firing the ball as she fell to the grass past Hawks goaltender Micaela Smith. Grange was mobbed by her teammates and cheered loudly by the enthusiastic Bulldog faithful. Her goal sparked the Bulldogs to a big 2-1 win over the Hawks.

"It's definitely not something I thought about when I came to Bryant," she said of the records, "but it's certainly nice."

Seventh-year Head Coach Chris Flint cannot say enough about her motivation and never-say-die attitude.

"She wants to be successful and she never gives up," he said. "She's very competitive and intense in practice and it certainly translates into the games. She has that killer instinct and never settles for what she has."

Tying the score with less than a minute to play in the first half was as big a goal as Grange has scored all season.

"The way she broke the record is as good a way as any," said Flint. "To tie the game at the end of a half in what was a big game, that's what Casey does."

Grange has been the Bulldogs' best player for the last two years and continually comes up with the big goal whenever her team has needed one.

"Teams key on her and she's responded," said Flint. "She doesn't feel the pressure of being the go-to player."

Grange kicked of the 2006 campaign with a bang, scoring six goals in her team's first two matches. She continued her success breaking a scoreless tie in the 85^th minute to give the Bulldogs the 1-0 in their home opener against Pace on August 30^th.

"Her quick start was the best-case scenario for our team", said Flint. "Casey has always been more of a leader on the field than off of it, and to start off like she did was a perfect way to start her captaincy."

By scoring her 35^th career goal, she broke the record owned by former teammate and former assistant coach Allison Kelly.

"Ali's been a real support system," said the Methuen, Mass. native of her former teammate and coach. "We still talk frequently and we're good friends. She helped me get out of my slump earlier this season and gives me plenty of advice and encouragement on how I can bring the team together. And she emailed me congratulating me for breaking her record."

Being Bryant's captain has been as difficult a role as any for Grange because she is the first sole captain in the women's soccer program since 2001.

"More so than any other year, all the responsibility falls on her as the only captain," said Flint. "The girls respect her and see how hard she's worked."

Despite being the most prolific scorer in Bulldog history, Grange knows there is still plenty of work to be done. The Bulldogs have qualified for the Northeast-10 Tournament and will have their work cut out for them to win it. As her Bulldog career winds down, Grange will be counted on for even more goals and leadership as the postseason arrives.

She finished the 2006 regular season scoring both goals, her 17^th and 18^th of the season, against 23^rd-ranked Merrimack, leading the Bulldogs to a 2-1 victory on senior night. The win gave Bryant home-field for the Northeast-10 Quarterfinals against Merrimack, a game in which they prevailed 2-1.

"We've been on a roll since the second half of the New Haven game (Oct. 1)," Grange said. "We're playing with more intensity than before, and we're not getting deflated when we're down a goal. Now we just pick up the pace instead of dropping it.  It's nice to break the record but I'd much rather make it to the NCAA Tournament."

With the Bulldogs peaking at the right time and currently ranked fourth in the New England region, Grange got her wish, a trip to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in her career.