Bulldogs battle Rams in final non-conference home match Tuesday at 4:00 p.m.

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – The Bryant University men's soccer team concludes a three-game homestand that spanned 13 days when it takes on the University of Rhode Island on Tuesday at 4:00 p.m.

The Bulldogs (0-7) and Rams (3-5-1) have met in each of the last six seasons, as this year's visitors hold a decisive 4-0-2 edge in the series. Two of the encounters have gone into double overtime and two have been decided by one goal, with the 2012 meeting ending in a 4-4 draw, marking the highest-scoring game the Bulldogs have played at the Division I level.

Still in search of its first victory, Bryant has endured a hellacious schedule of late, as it has taken on three consecutive opponents that were either ranked or receiving votes (#8 Denver, RV Vermont, #24 UMass Lowell).

The Rams began the season strong, posting a 3-1-1 record through five games thanks to a season-opening 2-1 double-overtime win over Providence College and 1-0 decisions over St. Franics Brooklyn and Stetson. But URI has dropped four-straight, most recently a 2-1 overtime heartbreaker to Brown on Saturday, September 24.

The Rams will aim to turn around their recent struggles and lean on the impressive play of their freshman midfielder, Stavros Zarokostas. The Coventry, R.I., product leads the team with six points on two goals and assists. Freshman defender Peder Kristiansen (3a) and sophomore mids Danny Apajee (1g, 1a) and Emil Jesman Sunde (1g, 1a) all have three points. Six other Rams have added two points on the year, five of whom have scored a goal. Sunde and junior midfielder Dante Lamb scored a goal apiece in the Ram's 3-1 win over Bryant last year.

Junior keeper Nick Stewart (South Windsor, Conn.) will look to keep the Rams off the scoreboard and continue his strong play. Despite allowing over two goals per contest, Stewart is making 5.57 saves per game to rank 13th in the country. He made six stops in the Bulldog's 1-0 loss to then No.-24 UMass Lowell on Wednesday, September 21 and made a pair of saves in 20 minutes of action in last year's match with the Rams.

The key for Bryant will be to get Stewart a lead which he has not yet had this season. Just three Bulldogs have scored goals, two of which came in the double-overtime loss to Vermont on September 14. Senior mid Curtis Orth (Ancaster, Ont.) fired off five shots with two on target in the loss to the Rams last year, while junior forward Thomas Binder (Vienna, Austria) had three shots with two on frame as well. Senior defender Jake Lamar (New Haven, Conn.) had three shots on net and scored in Bryant's 3-1 loss to URI in 2013.

The Bulldogs will have to get past junior goalie Nils Leifhelm, who has faced Bryant twice and has allowed just two goals to go along with eight saves. He is allowing over a goal per game in eight appearances with 30 saves on the season, as he owns a .750 save percentage. Classmate Chad Fox made the start between the posts against Albany on September 17 and made four saves while allowing just one goal.

Tuesday's matchup kicks off at 4:00 p.m. and it can be followed along on Twitter @BryantGameday or seen live on NECFrontRow.com.