Franklin, Mass.- The Dean College Bulldogs field hockey squad, powered by two goals from first-year standout Emily Yazzetti (Mahopac, N.Y.), rolled past the visiting Rivier University Raiders, 2-0 on Wednesday in Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) play at Grant Field. The win for Dean avenges an 8-0 loss to Rivier in 2023 and propels the Bulldogs to 3-4 (1-1 GNAC). Rivier drops to 2-3 (1-1 GNAC). 

Yazzetti accounted for all of the scoring for both teams, her two goals punctuating the Bulldogs victory. Her first, an unassisted marker in the middle of the second quarter, came off a rebound of her own shot. She corralled the loose ball and snuck it past the Rivier keeper on the near post, giving Dean 1-0 lead that the Bulldogs held through the end of the half. Both teams took nine shots in the first frame, and Rivier had a 4-3 advantage in corner kicks.

Yazzetti broke through again in the second half, this time from the middle of the field off a feed from fellow first year Emma Gragen (Brattleboro, Vt.). The goal, with twelve minutes to play in the fourth, provided some cushion for Dean as the Bulldogs were able to hold on down the stretch to preserve the 2-0 victory.  Yazzetti led the Bulldogs with nine shots, while Gragen had two. Another first-year, Katrina Lee (Brookline, N.H.) added one shot as well. 

In her first start of the season, first-year goaltender Sara Gardner (Hampstead, Md.) was fantastic, posting a 10 save shutout that included multiple kick saves to prevent goals. Madison Bovvil provided plenty of offense for the Raiders, with seven shots, and six on goal, but Gardner was up to the challenge and kept the visiting Raiders off the board. 

Up next for Dean is a road GNAC tilt at Anna Maria on Saturday September 21st at 12:00 p.m.