Bulldogs welcome Gaels for home opener, Sunday at 1 p.m.

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Just 41 hours removed from its scintillating double-overtime victory over Stony Brook in the season opener, the Bryant University women's soccer team will kick off the home slate of games against Iona College on Sunday at 1:00 p.m.

Resilience, stamina and persistence can describe the performance the Bulldogs (1-0-0) put forth on Friday night. The team was outshot, 24-10, and defended for the majority of the 108+ minutes of play. Senior keeper Kaylan Conrad (Avon, Conn.) made eight saves in the 1-0 win, and the defense in front of her limited the Seawolves to just a 33.3 shooting percentage. The rookies made their presence felt when it mattered most, as midfielder Caitlyn Linden (Newtown, Conn.) sent a wonderful through ball to sophomore Alex Spangler (Acton, Mass.) on the wing, who found freshman forward Remi Manna (Pleasantville, N.Y.) in the box for the winner.

The Gaels (0-1-0) fell to Holy Cross, 3-1, in Friday's opener. Junior defender Christine Rebus headed in the lone goal on the end of a throw-in assist from junior forward Charlotte Stuart. Both Stuart and Rebus were the only two members of last year's team to start all 19 games, as the former led the Gaels with 18 points on seven goals and four assists. Overall, the Gaels returned six of their top seven point producers, including sophomore Brianna Hernandez (9), junior Marissa Bentley (8), junior Julia Campagna (6), senior Erika Flowers (5) and sophomore Megan Wood (4). Junior transfer keeper Tiffany Martinez made her Iona debut in Friday's loss, as she made four saves in 90 minutes.

Sunday marks just the second meeting between the two schools, having played a match in 2014 that resulted in a, 2-1, Bulldog win. Junior defender Kristen O'Connor (Beverly, Mass.) blasted two shots on goal and put Bryant on the board first in that contest. Seniors Kaitlyn Spangler (Acton, Mass.) and Kianna Woods (Stafford Springs, Conn.) and junior Hanna Crofut (East Amherst, N.Y.) all attempted a shot. Conrad was in net that afternoon and she made four saves while allowing one goal.

Sunday's action gets under way at 1:00 p.m. from Bulldog Stadium, and it can be followed along via livestats at BryantBulldogs.com.