Bulldogs host River Hawks Wednesday at 4:00 p.m.

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – After its week-long layoff, the Bryant University men's soccer team returns to action against another challenging non-conference opponent when it hosts UMass Lowell Wednesday at 4:00 p.m.

Wednesday's match marks the fourth overall and the fourth consecutive between the Bulldogs (0-6) and River Hawks (6-0-1). Bryant holds a 2-1 series edge, having taken the first two meetings. Each matchup between the sides has been decided by one goal.

The Bulldogs are coming off of their best performance of the season, as it took a Vermont team that was 5-1 and receiving votes to two overtimes. Trailing one of the top scoring offenses, 2-0, at halftime, Bryant turned it on in the second half and tied the game to send things into extra frames. Having scored just one goal in the first five outings, the Bulldogs came together and put forth a tremendous second half, as sophomore midfielder Nathaniel Brown (Queens, N.Y.) scored his first goal in the Black and Gold, and freshman defender James Cochrane (Sandy Hook, Conn.) tied things up midway through the second stanza.   

The River Hawks have been one of the most consistent teams in the country, as it holds the third-highest winning percentage at the Division I level. Though all but one of its games have been decided by one goal, UMass Lowell finished 1-0-1 last week with a win over Brown on Wednesday and a 1-1 draw against Dartmouth which was receiving votes. Lowell enters this week ranked 24th according to College Soccer New National Poll and 21st in its first appearance in the Top Drawer Soccer Rankings.

For the second-straight game, the Bulldogs will face a team that is led by a pair of double-digit point getters. Senior forward Wuilito Fernandes and freshman forward Ivan Abramovic sit second and first on the team with 12 (6g) and 13 (4g, 5a), respectively, as they rank 22nd and 14th nationally. Fernandez is tied for 9th in the nation in goals and Abramovic is tied for third in assists. The two are also tied for third in the country with three game-winning goals apiece. Also having a superb season is senior midfielder Carlos Ruiz, who has added seven points on two goals and three assists.

Ruiz, sophomore defender Chase Reichenberg and senior mid Guilherme Rodrigues all scored in last year's 3-2 victory over the Bulldogs. Fernandes attempted four shots, two on target, and scored in the 2013 loss.

Looking to stop one of the top offenses in the America East will be junior keeper Nick Stewart (South Windsor, Conn.). The third-year goalie has faced 48 shots this year and has allowed 15 goals. But due to the high volume of shots sent in his direction, Stewart's 6.00 saves per game rank fifth in the country. He faced the River Hawks in 2014 and earned a clean sheet with five saves in Bryant's 1-0 win.

In the opposing goal will be junior Austin Kroll, who has started all 42 games he has appeared in since joining the River Hawks in 2014. He leads a UMass Lowell defense that sits 25th nationally with a 0.67 goals-against average. Kroll sports a 0.783 save percentage and has 18 saves on the season.

Wednesday's action gets under way at 4:00 p.m., can be followed along via livestats on BryantBulldogs.com, Twitter @BryantGameday and seen live on NECFrontRow.com.