Murray, Leyh Pace Unbeaten Rams Past Bryant, 2-1

Rhody Starters
Leyh, Warjas, Hansen, Bailes, Ari Stanton, Brennan, Lieberman, Alex Stanton, Gylfadottir, Nardella, Lindsey (GK)

Bryant Starters
Donaghy, Schucker, Hurwitz, Thomas, Crofut, Benson, Biagi, Barbato, Sanders, Scheuer, Conrad (GK)

Scoring Summary

1st Half - URI - Donika Murray (Gates) - 42:23 (1st of season)

2nd Half - BRY - Katy Biagi (Crofut) - 66:51 (2nd of season)

2nd Half - URI - Samantha Leyh (Murray) - 68:31 (2nd of season)

How It Happened
1st Half
Rhode Island held Bryant to zero shots on goal, making it three straight periods for the Rams without allowing a shot on target.  Ariana Stanton hit the crossbar in the 21st minute, providing the Rams with the first real chance of the game. Donika Murray subbed into the game in the 29th minute and had both an immediate and lasting impact. Murray had a header, two corner attempts, and a shot wide of the goal, before she took a cross from Chelsea Gates and sliced it into the far corner of the goal.

2nd Half
The Rams continued to dominate on the pitch in the second 45:00, outshooting the Bulldogs, 10-4.  Bryant got their lone shot on-goal in the 67th minute, as Katy Biagi put a point-blank shot on URI keeper Reilly Lindsey on the left side of the box.  But Rhody would put the gamewinner in the back of the net less than two minutes later, as Murray set up a long right-to-left cross to the end line that found Samantha Leyh.  The senior scored her second goal of the season off a header in the upper 90. 

Inside the Box Score

• Rhode Island improved to 3-0-1 on the season, while Bryant fell to 1-4-0 on the year.
• URI outshot Bryant 17-7 and allowed just one shot on goal, while puttting 13 on target on the other end of the pitch.
• Both teams attempted four corner kicks in the match.
• Donika Murray had four shots, three of which were on target.. Katrin Gylfadottir put three more shots on goal, adding to her team leading seven total shots on the season.
• Reilly Lindsey allowed one goal in the 90 minute effort while picking up her second win of the season.

Quotables

• Postgame recap and highlights

Additional Notes

• The win is the 250th victory in Rhode Island program history.
• Leyh's goal moved her to 24th all-time on Rhode Island's all-time points list.
• Rhode Island is now 11-1 all-time against the Bulldogs.

Up Next

The Rams travel to Sacred Heart on Sunday to take on the Pioneers at 1:00 p.m.