Bulldogs welcome SFNY and Monmouth

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – The Bryant University men's soccer team will welcome a pair of Northeast Conference opponents to town this weekend, hosting St. Francis (NY) on Friday afternoon (Oct. 7) at Sutton Field before doing battle against preseason favorite Monmouth University on Sunday (Oct. 9), marking the start of a season-high four-game home stretch.

The Bulldogs (1-6-1, 0-2 NEC) will be looking to snap a two-game losing streak after dropping a pair of one-goal losses against Quinnipiac and Long Island University last weekend.  In total, Bryant has dropped five one-goal decisions in six losses this season, with the winning team scoring the go-ahead goal in the 85^th minute or later in four of those matches.

The Terriers (6-2-1, 1-0-0) enter today's contest with six wins in their first nine games, and have averaged nearly two goal per game with 16 goals in nine contests (1.95 GPG).  After starting the season 0-2-1, SFNY has reeled off six straight wins, marking the longest winning streak in the conference since Monmouth started the 2010 season with six straight 'W's.  Even more impressively is the fact that the Terriers have won all of those games by a single goal. 

Both teams have met three times since 2008, with the Terriers holding a commanding 3-0-0 lead in the all-time record.  Most recently, SFNY came away with a 5-0 victory at the Aviator Sports Complex in Brooklyn, N.Y. on Oct. 8, 2010.

The Bulldogs last took to the pitch on Sunday, Oct. 2, traveling to Long Island University to take on the Blackbirds in their second conference match of the season.  After heading into the locker room tied at 1-1 after the first half, senior forward Nicholas Parisi (Holbrook, N.Y.) put the Bulldogs on top with a goal in the 50th minute.  Bryant would hold onto that 2-1 lead until the 80th minute, when LIU found the back of the net to even up the match at 2-2.  Both teams would combine for four goals in the final 10 minutes, but despite a late goal by junior Ryan Stone (Wakefield, R.I.), the Blackbirds would net a goal in the 87th minute to pull out a wild, 4-3 victory over the Bulldogs.

On Sunday, unanimous preseason coaches poll favorite Monmouth will travel to the Ocean State to take on the Bulldogs for a 12 p.m. affair.  The Hawks (7-3, 1-1) will represent a formidable test for the Black and Gold, as Monmouth has won the past two league titles, but most recently was stunned by CCSU, losing for the first time in conference play since the 2009 season.

Junior midfielder Ryan Clark leads the team on offense, netting three goals and earning five assists for 11 points – second most in the conference.  He dished out four assists over the past weekend, while senior George Quintano scored twice on Friday against Long Island. His three goals on the season are now tied with Clark for the team lead.  Alex Blackburn has been solid between the posts, as he has logged a conference-high 900:00 while limiting opponents to 0.80 goals per game.

Bryant and Monmouth have faced off twice before, with the Hawks winning both matches. Most recently, the Bulldogs were downed, 3-0, in an Oct. 24, 2010 matchup in West Long Branch, N.J.

For continuing coverage of Bryant University men's soccer, check back at www.bryantbulldogs.com, and be sure to follow the Bulldogs on Twitter @BryantAthletics.