A day after a crucial 7A Central Conference win in a shootout against the Mount St. Mary Belles, the Bryant Lady Hornets were back on the pitch again on Tuesday night in a non-conference match with the Pulaski Academy Lady Bruins.
Though the Lady Bruins scored in the first minute and the contest was tied 2-2 at half, the Lady Hornets surged in the final 10 minutes to forge a 4-2 victory. It was their 10th win in a row and 17th in 18 games this season going into their final three contests. Bryant visits Conway on Friday then hosts Van Buren on Tuesday, May 5, before concluding the regular-season on Friday, May 8.
The Lady Hornets are hosting the girls Class 7A State Tournament, May 14-16.
“PA was a good physical team that caught us on our heels in the first 27 seconds,” said Bryant head coach Julie Long. “ We looked tired after a tough game the night before. We came out flat and then picked it up. First half, we were getting our legs back. We did a good job pushing through the end again and gaining some momentum.”
Anna Lowery got the Lady Hornets on the board off a corner kick by Kendall Selig with 27:07 left in the first half. At 12:55, Caroline Campbell gave Bryant a 2-1 lead with a goal off an assist by Hadley Dickinson.
But Pulaski Academy scored again at 5:30 to tie it.
It stayed 2-2 for just over 22 minutes of the second half then Campbell found the range again off an assist by Lowery to put the Lady Hornets ahead to stay. And it wasn’t long (5:38) before Dickinson drilled a shot off a cross from Campbell to put the game away.
“I’m glad the girls are fighting through the end but honestly we’re giving up too many goals,” Long said. “I would like to refocus our efforts before Friday to holding teams to no goals and pushing for a shut out.
“I am proud they are finding ways to win even when we haven’t played our best,” she concluded.
