Rhode Island (5-1-0)
Starters: Eden (GK), Gilbert, Penny, Name, MacDonald, Rosenfeld, Carstensen, Sylvester, Poon, Jacobs, White
Substitutes: Yee, Rice, Steinbach, Samalonis, Camacho

Bryant (1-2-2)
Starters: Mejia (GK), Quill, Supple, Luke, Sadler, Forshay, Prentice-Whyte, Edwards, Wandyes, Ardolino, Codon
Substitutes: Griffin, Cunningham, Salina, Feeley, Edelstein, Mulholland, Moriarty, Leblanc, Callahan

Scoring Summary
47:33 - URI - Carstensen (Sylvester)
50:49 - URI - Carstensen (MacDonald)

How it Happened
Mie Carstensen scored twice in less than four minutes to lead Rhode Island to a dominant 2-0 victory over in-state rival Bryant Thursday night.

With the win, the Rams improved to 5-1-0. It is the program's best start to a season since URI won its first nine matches of the 2000 season.

After a scoreless opening 45 minutes, Carstensen scored in the 48th and 51st minute. She was assisted by McKenna Sylvester on the first and Lauren MacDonald on the latter.
 
Despite no goals for either side, it was total domination by Rhode Island in the first half. The Rams outshot Bryant 13-0 and had a 10-0 edge in corner kicks, but they could not break through against goalie Shannon Mejia. A corner kick in the 16th minute nearly led to an early Rhody lead, but a header by Carstensen went off the right post.

Jill Rosenfeld got possession of the loose ball and lined a low shot to the corner, but Mejia dove to her left to punch the ball away. Minutes later, Mejia again kept the Rams off the board when she was just able to punch a Lauren MacDonald left-footed shot over the crossbar. In the 41st minute, Kyra Samalonis fired long shot on target. Once again, Mejia was able to punch the ball over the crossbar to keep the match scoreless.

The Rams finally broke through just minutes into the second half. In the 49th minute, Sylvester lofted a left-footed corner kick into the box, and Carstensen was able to volley it across the end line with her body, putting Rhode Island ahead 1-0. Carstensen struck again moments later when she sent a cross from MacDonald past Mejia for the insurance goal.

Inside the Box Score

• Rhode Island had 19 corner kicks, the most in a single match by any team in the country this season. Kentucky had 18 against Purdue Fort Wayne on Aug. 28.
• The victory snapped a four-match unbeaten streak by Bryant in the series with the Bulldogs. Rhody's last win over the Bulldogs was 10 seasons ago in 2015.
• Rhode Island did not allow any shots on goal. The defense did not allow any shots until the 77th minute.
• The Rams had a 25-1 edge in total shots, a 10-0 advantage in shots on goal and a 19-0 edge in corner kicks.
• Mie Carstensen scored twice. She had one career goal entering the match.
• McKenna Sylvester recorded the second assist of her career.
• Lauren MacDonald now has two goals and three assists on the season, good for seven points.
• Freshman Natalie White played all 90 minutes in her second straight start on defense. Rhode Island has yet to allow a goal with White in the starting lineup.
• Goalie Dani Eden did not need to make a save as she recorded her fourth shutout of the season.
• Rhode Island is 6-2-1 in its last nine matches overall and 4-0-1 in its last five matches at the URI Soccer Complex.

Up Next
The Rams have a week off before welcoming Connecticut to the URI Soccer Complex on Thursday, Sept. 11 at 7 p.m. The match is scheduled to stream on ESPN+.