Bulldogs go for two-straight Friday vs. URI

WOMEN'S SOCCER WELCOMES URI IN SEARCH OF SECOND-STRAIGHT WIN FRIDAY (3 P.M.)

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Coming off its first win of the 2013 season, the Bryant University women's soccer team welcomes cross-state rival Rhode Island to Smithfield, Friday at 3 p.m.

The Bulldogs enter Friday's match with a 1-3 overall record coming off a 2-0 victory at Delaware St. on Sunday, while the Rams (2-2) blanked New Hampshire at home, 2-0, last time out.

On Sunday, junior forward Suzanne Sanders (West Chester, Pa.) netted a pair of scores to lead the Bulldogs to a much-needed road win. Bryant wasted little time getting on the board Sunday as Sanders potted her first goal since Sept. 11, 2011 in the fourth minute off an assist from senior Ari Goldberg (East Bridgewater, Mass.). Sanders capped the scoring in the 81^st minute with her second goal of the afternoon, while senior keeper Lauren Viverito (Dayton, N.J.) earned the shutout in just her first start of the year.

Sanders currently leads the Bulldogs in scoring with the two goals, while Goldberg and freshman Kianna Woods (Stafford Springs, Conn.) sit tied for second with two points apiece. Woods tallied the lone goal in Friday night's loss at Rider, while Goldberg has assisted on two of Bryant's three markers this year. Senior Shana Follette (Plymouth, Mass.) has yet to find the back of the net but her 14 shots through four games ranks her second in the Northeast Conference.

URI makes the trek up North for the first time in Bryant's Division I history, as the Rams look to win their second-straight match as well. Freshman midfielder Nicole Brennan is off to a great start in her collegiate career, currently tied atop the URI leaderboard with five points (2g, 1a). Junior midfielder Samantha Leyh has also registered a pair of scores and an assist, while senior forward Lucy Gildein has put up four points (1g, 2a) through four games. Four goalkeepers have seen time in net thus far for the Rams with junior Reilly Lindsey appearing in three matches, compiling a 1-1 record.

Last September, the Rams topped the Bulldogs, 2-1, on the back of a three-point afternoon from Gildein. The Bulldogs will be out for revenge on Friday as they look to open up September on a high note.

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