Bulldogs host LIU, St. Francis Brooklyn over weekend

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – The Bryant University men's soccer team will play its final two home matches of the regular season over the weekend when the Bulldogs welcome LIU Brooklyn on Friday (3 p.m.), before gearing up for a rematch of the 2013 Northeast Conference Tournament finals on Sunday vs. St. Francis Brooklyn (1 p.m.).

Coming off a 1-1 tie at Sacred Heart on Saturday, the Bulldogs currently sit in second place in the NEC standings with seven points, trailing only Saint Francis U. On Saturday, the Black and Gold struck first in the 39th minute when Ryan Rose (Acton, Mass.) and Tony Flaim (Fort Lee, N.J.) connected for Rose's first marker of his Bryant career. The Bulldogs held the 1-0 edge through nearly the rest of the match until the Pioneers evened the score in the 88th minute. The two teams battled in a pair of scoreless 10-minute overtime period to each earn a point in the NEC standings. In five overtime matches this season, Bryant has posted a 1-2-2 mark (0-2-2 in double OT).

On Friday, Bryant will welcome LIU Brooklyn to Smithfield for a 3 p.m. tilt at Bulldog Soccer Field. The Blackbirds, who open the 2014 season with an 0-7 record, have won three of their last five matches, and currently sit in third place in the NEC standings at 2-1. Senior forward Brice Merwine has scored 10 of LIU's 17 goals this season (second in NEC), while Logan Keys and Cole Palmer have combined for a 2.3 goals against average in 12 matches. Last season in Brooklyn, the Bulldogs and Blackbirds played 110 minutes to 1-1 draw.

On Sunday, the Bulldogs host St. Francis Brooklyn for Senior Day in a rematch of the 2013 NEC Tournament Championship. The Terriers enter the weekend with a 6-5-3 overall mark, going 6-1-3 in the last 10 matches. Most recently, St. Francis went 0-1-1 with a loss at Saint Francis U., before battling Robert Morris to a 1-1 tie in Moon Township, Pa. Currently 1-1-1 in NEC play, junior John Makaya leads the team with seven goals, while redshirt junior Jack Binks has only allowed 12 goals in 14 starts in net. Last season, the Bulldogs and Terriers tied their regular season matchup in Brooklyn, 1-1, with St. Francis squeaking out an OT win, 3-2, in the conference final.

Heading into the weekend with a 4-0-2 overall record since Sept. 14, Bryant will look to inch closer to a spot in the NEC Tournament for the second-straight season with victories on Friday and Sunday.