Bulldogs host Catamounts Wednesday at 4:00 p.m.

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – The Bryant University men's soccer team returns home for the first of three-straight games, taking on the University of Vermont on Wednesday at 4:00 p.m.

Wednesday's match marks the second in as many years between the Bulldogs (0-5) and Catamounts (5-1), with this year's visitors taking the first and only meeting, 2-1.

Sophomore mid Clay Gattey gave Vermont a 1-0 lead in that game 43 minutes in on a header set up by senior forward Elliot Maker. Brett Larocque ('15) knotted things up in the 57th minute, but senior mid Stefan Lamanna struck the game winner in the 70th minute on the tail end of a Brian Wright cross. Junior Thomas Binder (Vienna, Austria) attempted four shots in the loss, while junior Jason Norat (Wilmington, Del.), senior Pedro-Lucas Ferreira (East Boston, Mass.) and sophomore Charlie Booth (Concord, Mass.) fired off one shot apiece. Junior Nick Stewart (South Windsor, Conn.) was in goal that afternoon, as he made two saves.  

The Bulldogs are back in Smithfield following a challenging trip to Colorado that saw them finish 0-2 and get outscored 8-0. Despite allowing five second-half goals at Air Force on Friday in a 6-0 loss, Bryant responded with a hard-fought 2-0 loss to then-No. 11 Denver on Sunday.

The Catamounts make their way to the Ocean State boasting one of the nation's most prolific offenses. Ranked as high as No. 23 last week, Vermont lost its first game over the weekend to VCU, 2-1. Despite the loss, they are still receiving 33 votes in this week's rankings and lead the America East in assists per game, points per game, scoring offense at 2.50 goals per game, total goals and points, as they rank 35th, 19th, 13th, third and fifth in the nation, respectively.

Vermont is paced by the second-highest scoring tandem in the nation with senior forwards Wright and Bernard Yeboah. Wright sits second in the country with 15 points on four goals and a Division I best seven assists. Yeboah has 14 points on seven goals, which are the second most in the nation. The two have scored in all but one game and have combined for nine multi-point outings. The fourth-year forwards are the only teammates in the nation to have at least 12 points.

Along with the two-headed monster upfront, the Catamounts are deep and experienced along the midfield. Graduate seniors Charlie DeFeo and Loftur Eriksson and Lamanna have each added three points on a goal and an assist apiece.

Vermont's defense has gone somewhat overlooked, but it is nothing to take lightly. The Catamount's also lead the league in goals-against average, allowing just 0.81 goals per game. The keeper position has been split evenly over the first six games, as senior Eric Venezia and freshman Aron Runarsson have each logged three games between the posts. They both have nine saves to go along with four goals allowed for Venezia and just one for Runarsson, as the latter has a 3-0 record. Eriksson leads the backline along with junior Arthur Bacquet, who has appeared in 40 games during his career and was named to the America East All-Rookie Team in 2014.

Wednesday's contest kicks off at 4:00 p.m. and can been followed along on Twitter @BryantGameday, via livestats at BryantBulldogs.com or streamed live and free of charge on NECFrontRow.com.