Women's Soccer Rallies for Crucial Empire 8 Win over Hartwick

Joe Venniro - Assistant Sports Information Director

Melanie Bryant had a pair of goals as RIT defeated Hartwick 4-2.

| 10/23/2004 4:55:17 PM

HARTWICK, NY - The RIT Women's Soccer team rallied from a 2-0 first half deficit, scoring four unanswered goals en route to a 4-2 win over Hartwick College that gives the Tigers the inside track for the fourth and final playoff berth.

Sophomore Melanie Bryant (Lancaster, NY/Sacred Heart Academy) (Lancaster, NY/Sacred Heart Academy) scored a career-best five points, notching two goals and an assist. She cut the Hartwick lead to 2-1 with a goal in the 15th minute, ripping a shot from about 20 yards out just inside the far post after receiving a pass from Anna Kolnik (Sharon, WI/Big Foot) (Sharon, WI/Big Foot). Bryant then closed out the scoring in the 68th minute, sending a shot into the top left corner of the net, again from 20 yards out.

Mallory Frost (Barre, VT/Spaulding) (Barre, VT/Spaulding) and Kolnik recorded a goal and assist apiece in the win. Frost tied the game at two in the final minute of the first half, taking a pass from Bryant and striking a shot inside the far post.

Kolnik scored the game winner in the 55th minute, getting a pass from Frost and sending a shot into the net from just inside the penalty area.

Beth White and Andrea Slyer scored for Hartwick, who found themselves leading by two goals just 7:40 into the contest.

The Tigers out-shot Hartwick 11-7. Carrie Yehle (Clifton Park, NY/Shenendehowa) (Clifton Park, NY/Shenendahowa) made three saves to pick up her fourth win of the year.

RIT (5-8-2, 2-2-2 Empire 8) now has eight points in the conference, three ahead of Utica for the final spot. If RIT defeats Nazareth in their final Empire 8 game on Wednesdsay, or Utica drops their final conference game, then RIT clinches a spot in the Empire 8 Tournament.

The Tigers host Nazareth at 3 p.m. on Wednesday.