Bulldogs Open up Conference Play in a 4-2 Victory over Rivier
The Bulldogs came into Saturday's action riding the momentum of a 7-6 overtime victory on Wednesday, when the team traveled to Plymouth State and defeated the Panthers. The momentum was carried over into another win for Dean field hockey, this time in the first GNAC game of the season winning 4-2 over the Rivier Raiders.
Saturday's conference play action started off slow as both teams were still in the figuring things out phase. Through the first fifteen minutes of action the score was still 0-0.
However, that would change quickly as the Bulldogs offense was electrified in the second period. Senior captain Jordan Boelig found the back of net for the first time this season and for the first Bulldogs goal, with a backhanded shot to make it 1-0.
Quickly, the Bulldogs would strike again, as Junior captain Emily Yazzetti would run past multiple Rivier defenders and fire a hard shot past the Raider's goalkeeper, extending the Bulldog lead 2-0.
Yazzetti would tack on another goal for the Bulldogs to make it 3-0 Dean. That was the 8th goal of the young season for the Junior.
Mya Dixon would finish the first half in style for the Bulldogs. With just 13 seconds left, she would score her second goal of the season and extend the Dean lead to 4-0 going into the halftime intermission.
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Second half action started with a quiet third period in Franklin, neither team would score in the period, and the Bulldogs still held a 4-0 lead entering the final period of play.
Rivier's offense would finally get on the board in the fourth period with back-to-back goals late from Ava Friberg and Sophia Quinlan.
With their lead cut in half in only a few minutes, the Bulldogs would then play a more defensive minded game and give the Raiders nothing to work with offensively.
Ultimately, the Bulldogs were victorious once again, defeating Rivier 4-2 in the first conference game of the season. Goalkeeper Sara Gardner would also officially surpass the 300-save mark for her collegiate career in the win.
Another tough, hard fought win for Dean College, and when asked about the competitiveness that conference play brings, Bulldogs coach Megan Gutierrez said, "It's all or nothing."
Now sitting at 5-1 on the season, Dean field hockey is back in action Wednesday, September 23rd, as they hit the road to Weston for a GNAC battle with the Regis Pride at 4:00 PM ET.
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