WOMEN’S SOCCER TIES BROWN, 3-3, BEHIND 16 SAVES FROM CLARK
October 8, 2008
WOMEN'S SOCCER TIES BROWN, 3-3, BEHIND 16 SAVES FROM CLARK
PROVIDENCE, RI - Senior keeper Jessica Clark (Barnstable, Mass.) made a career high 16 saves in net to help the Bryant women's soccer team tie Brown, 3-3, Wednesday night. The 16 saves broke a Bryant record for most saves ever in a single game, previously held by Kim Reckart who stopped 13 shots in a 2003 game at Adelphi. The Bulldogs, who were outshot 37-15 in the contest, played their fourth overtime game this season, making their record 1-0-3 when going into extra time. The Bulldogs jumped out to an early 2-0 lead on goals from Sarah Donovan (Storrs, Conn.) and Kaitlyn Hinck (Bow, N.H.) just 27 minutes into the game.
After Hinck had her shot blocked, Donovan picked up the rebound and put it past the dive of Brown keeper Brenna Hogue to put Bryant up 1-0. Hinck would add a goal of her own just nine minutes later, finding the back of the net following a scramble in the box to stake the Bulldogs to a 2-0 lead.
Clark would help keep the lead, making a great save with just under 20 minutes to go in the first half, tipping a header from Sara Hebert-Seropian just over the net. The senior keeper would do it again later in the half, this time robbing Sylvia Stone, diving across the goal mouth to stop a low driven shot from 35 yards out.
The Bears would not go away quietly, however, responding with goals two goals in four minutes. Marybeth Lesbirel started the scoring, beating the Bryant defense and banking in a shot off the far post to pull Brown to within one in the 37th minute. Hebert-Seropian would tie the game on a header from a corner delivered by Gloria Chun, and the two teams went into the locker room knotted at 2-2.
Bryant took the lead 46 seconds into the second half on an own goal by the Bears, giving them a 3-2 lead, and in position for their second straight win. The Bulldogs would hold the slim one goal lead until the 80th minute, as Sylvia Stone played a cross all the way through the penalty box that found the head of Lindsay Cunningham, and beat Clark to the far post to tie the score at 3-3.
The two squads would battle through two extra time sessions with Brown getting the majority of the scoring chances, including six corners, but were kept out by tremendous goalkeeping by Clark. She would make another big save in the second overtime, just getting a hand on a header from Lesbirel. The rebound came down and rolled towards the goal line, but Clark sprawled and recovered the ball just before it crossed.
Sophomore defender Steph Del Mistro (East Williston, N.Y.) also had a solid game for the Bulldogs, making key tackles. Senior captain Amy Orzechowski (Milford, Conn.) also played well in the midfield, making a big tackle as she blocked shot late in the second overtime off the foot of Stone from 18 yards away.
The meeting between the teams was the fifth all time, but the first since 1998, with Brown winning the first four contests.
Bryant will next play at Dartmouth on Tuesday (4 p.m.).
Women's Soccer
@ Providence, RI
Bryant 3, Brown 3
Goals:
BRY - Donovan (18th), Hinck (26th), Own Goal
(45th)
BROWN - Lesbirel (37th), Hebert-Seropian
(41st), Cunningham (80th)
Shots - Bryant 15, Brown 37 Saves -
Bryant 16, Brown 4
Halftime -Tied 2-2
