Bulldogs gear up for big weekend at Mount, vs. FDU

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Coming off its most productive week of the season, the Bryant University women's soccer team continues Northeast Conference play over the weekend when they visit Mount St. Mary's on Friday, before returning home to play Fairleigh Dickinson on Sunday.

After dropping a heartbreaking double overtime decision to Sacred Heart in its NEC opener, the Bulldogs responded with their best win of the season on Friday when they knocked off defending league champ Saint Francis U. with just three 3.7 seconds left in the match. With time ticking down, junior Sarah Schucker (Nanuet, N.Y.) raced to the flag for a Bryant corner kick just in time to place a beautiful cross inside the box to the head of senior Katy Biagi (Natick, Mass.) for the game-winner with just seconds left. The Black and Gold followed up their dramatic 1-0 victory with a scoreless tie at Wagner on Sunday.

Sophomore keeper Kaylan Conrad (Avon, Conn.), who hasn't allowed a goal in her last 200 minutes between the pipes, was named NEC and ECAC Defensive Player of the Week for her effort as she continues to prove why she is one of the top GKs in the conference.

"The defense is definitely our starting point," said Bryant head coach Chris Flint. "We've allowed just the one goal thus far in conference play, and we will continue to try to minimize our mistakes, while limiting the opposing team's opportunities.

"However, we have been focusing this week on improving on the offense end, while still maintaining our defense-first attitude in hopes of alleviating some of the pressure on the backline."

On Friday, Bryant will make its longest trip during the conference season when it treks down to Emmitsburg, Md., for a showdown with the Mountaineers. Mount St. Mary's enters Friday's match with a 1-13 overall record, 0-3 against NEC opponents most recently falling to LIU Brooklyn, 5-1, on Sunday. Junior Emma Blair has scored four of Mount's five goals on the year, while juniors Rachel Bourne and Vicky Cocozza have split time in net combining for a 3.14 goals against average. Last season the Mountaineers escaped Smithfield with a 2-1 victory on a goal in the 87th minute despite Michelle Durand's (Sudbury, Mass.) first-career marker.

"Our focus right now is on Mount," added Flint. "They are struggling right now but all of their NEC matches so far have been very close and our games against them are always very competitive."

And then on Sunday, the Bulldogs will face arguably their toughest test yet when they face off with Fairleigh Dickinson in Smithfield. The Knights, who currently sit atop the NEC standings, enter Sunday's action with a 10-4 overall mark, 3-1 against league opponents. Over the weekend, FDU dropped its first match in almost a month when they lost to Central Connecticut, 1-0, before coming back with a 2-1 win over Robert Morris on Sunday. Redshirt sophomore Rachel Hoekstra leads her team and ranks second in the NEC with 10 goals through 14 matches, while juniors Amanda Goulet and Carly Tice have combined for 13 assists on the year. Through 14 games, FDU is outscoring opponents, 32-15, with junior Felicia Burr allowing just 1.11 goals per contest in over 1200 minutes. Last season the Knights beat up the Black and Gold, 3-0, in Teaneck, N.J.

"After a short turnaround we have a huge test in FDU," noted Flint. "They are a very experienced team that knows how to win close games. They have one of the best players in the conference in Rachel Hoekstra and they will be fresh coming off a bye on Friday. It will certainly be a big test for us, but we will be prepared."

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.