Bulldogs battle Knights in first NEC road test Saturday at 6:00 p.m.

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Following its near victory over defending Northeast Conference champion LIU Brooklyn in Friday, October 7's 1-1 draw, the Bryant University men's soccer team will look to get a positive result when it plays at Fairleigh Dickinson on Saturday at 6:00 p.m.

The Bulldogs (1-8-1, 0-0-1) are 2-3-2 against the Knights (2-8-1, 0-1-1), but are 2-0-2 in the last four meetings. Senior Curtis Orth (Ancaster, Ont.) and junior Thomas Binder (Vienna, Austria) were all over the field, combining for 12 shots with three on target in last year's 1-1 draw against FDU.

The two weren't as involved against the Blackbirds, but Orth led the team with two shots on goal, while Binder gave Bryant a lead in the 54th minute on a header from five yards out that was set up by sophomore Nathaniel Brown (Queens, N.Y.). The lone goal conceded came on a penalty kick with 18 seconds remaining, as freshman keeper Olivier Larente (Garches, France) was whistled for the foul upon trying to knock away a dangerous ball in the box. But the reigning NEC Rookie of the Week played well in his first collegiate game with four saves, three coming over the final three periods.

As a team, the Bulldogs still lead the NEC and sit seventh nationally with 5.80 saves per game, as junior goalie Nick Stewart (South Windsor, Conn.) ranks eighth in the country with 5.67 stops per game.

Scouting the Knights

Fairleigh Dickinson has gone winless over its last five outings and has struggled offensively, currently averaging 0.720 goals. But the Knights have had no shortage of chances, as they sit second in the league with 12.64 shots per game and generate 0.73 assists per game.

Regardless of who is in goal for the Bulldogs, they will have to focus on senior Enver Caymaz, who leads the Knights with seven points on three goals and an assist. He also sits second in the conference with three shots per game and 1.22 shots on goal. Sophomore Javen Palmer and junior Casey Abelein sit second on the team with four points apiece on two goals and a score and two assists, respectively. Two other Knights have tallied a goal and five have added an assist.

What has kept the Knights in games has been the play of their defense, particularly the goalies. Freshman Sebastian Ferreira has made seven starts in eight appearances, while junior Julian Murillo Toro has made three starts, as the two combine for a 1.25 goals-against average which is third-best in the league.     

Saturday's match gets under way at 6:00 p.m., can be followed along via livestats on FDUKnights.com or watched live on NECFrontRow.com.