SMITHFIELD, R.I. – First-half goals by
Dara Battistoni (Pleasant Valley, N.Y./Arlington) and
Jackson Bennett (Toronto, Ontario/Humberside Collegiate Institute) proved to be the difference for Fairleigh Dickinson to secure a 2-1 win at Bryant on Sunday.
"Good for us that we found a way [to win] today," said
Eric Teepe postgame. "We started strong and got the early lead and created more chances. Even in the second half, we had a shot to get the third goal."
Fairleigh Dickinson (5-9-1, 3-0-1 NEC) moves into second place in the Northeast Conference standings with 10 points and remain unbeaten in their last 12 NEC regular season games. Bryant (7-8, 3-2 NEC) slides down to third place with nine points.
Battistoni tallied her third of the season and second in NEC play to give Fairleigh Dickinson a 1-0 lead after 13 minutes. The junior got possession at the top of the 18-yard box and put a shot past Bryant goalkeeper Kayla Conrad to the right post and low.
Bennett doubled the Knights' lead in the 29th minute on a header off a corner kick.
Jessi Reinhardt (Freiburg, Germany/Burggymansium) and
Connie Lewis (Outer Cove, Newfoundland/Gonzaga ) provided the assists on Bennett's second of the season. The assist was Reinhardt's fifth this season, which leads the NEC.
The Knights enjoyed the 2-0 lead into the second half before Bryant got one back in the 52nd minute on a goal Kianna Woods and her fourth of the season. Abigail Smith provided the through ball that Woods put past
Amanda Fitzgerald (Holbrook, N.Y./Sachem East).
Woods had a chance a few minutes later to tie the game but her header was pushed wide. The Bulldogs had one final chance with 1:15 to go but they could not get a shot on goal.
The Knights were limited to three shots in the second half. All three did get on frame and all were saved by Conrad in the Bryant goal.
"[Our mindset] is still about one game [at a time]. Robert Morris on Friday is a big game. We cannot afford to look past them and take care our business on our field. Priority number one is to be ready for RMU."
The game against Robert Morris is scheduled to start at 2 p.m. at University Stadium on Friday.
