Bulldogs visit Rider, Delaware St. in search of first win

WOMEN'S SOCCER HEADS TO RIDER FRIDAY (5 P.M.) AND DELAWARE ST. SUNDAY (1 P.M.) IN SEARCH OF FIRST WIN

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – In search of its first win of the 2013 campaign, the Bryant University women's soccer team hits the road over the weekend for a pair of crucial, early season road matches, opening at Rider Friday evening (5 p.m.), before heading to Delaware St. on Sunday (1 p.m.).

The Bulldogs (0-2) will look to get back on track after dropping a pair of tough, one-goal contests to open the season. On Friday, the Black and Gold allowed a goal in the 82nd minute, breaking a scoreless tie against cross-state rival Hartford, while Sunday saw the Bulldogs allow a goal just over 10 minutes into an eventual 1-0 loss to Maine.

Thus far in 2013, Bryant is outshooting its opposition, 27-16, but has been unable to find the back of the net. Senior forward Shana Follette (Plymouth, Mass.) has fired off a team-leading nine shots, including three close-calls on Sunday vs. Maine, while junior midfielder Katy Biagi (Natick, Mass.) has taken four shots herself.

On Friday, the Black and Gold will head to Lawrenceville, N.J., for a 5 p.m. showdown with Rider. The Broncs enter weekend action with a 0-1 overall record after dropping their season opener, 3-0, to Bucknell last week. Picked to finish fourth in the MAAC Preseason Coaches Poll, the Broncs return two of their top three scorers from a season ago in senior Jennifer Meier and sophomore Tara Ballay, both of whom were chosen to the Preseason All-MAAC team. Junior defender Becca Kape rounds out the list of Rider's Preseason All-MAAC selections. The two teams last squared off in 2011 with the Broncs earning a dominating 3-0 victory thanks to a hat trick from Meier.

From there, the Bulldogs will venture to Dover, Del., for a rematch with Delaware St., Sunday at 1 p.m. The Hornets come into Sunday's match with a 0-1 overall mark after falling to Temple, 4-0, on Sunday, Aug. 25. DSU posted a 3-11 record in 2012, including a 2-1 loss to Bryant on Sept. 14. After an Alex Bengston penalty kick evened the score at 1-1 in the 47th minute, senior Ari Goldberg (East Bridgewater, Mass.) found the back of the net with just over three minutes to play in regulation to lift the Bulldogs to a 2-1 win. This season, the Hornets return their three leading scorers from last year including sophomore forward Addison Taylor.

For links to live stats and streaming video of weekend action and all the latest news on the Bryant University women's soccer team, visit BryantBulldogs.com.