Bulldogs open conference play hosting the Colonials and Blackbirds for a weekend homestand

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – The Bryant University women's soccer team returns home for a pair of weekend matches to begin Northeast Conference action, taking on Robert Morris on Friday at 3:00 p.m. and LIU Brooklyn on Sunday at 1:00.

The Bulldogs (4-6) hold a 4-1-2 record over the Colonials (2-8). But after winning the first four meetings in the series, Friday's visitors have gone 1-1-2 over the last four contests with three of those matchups going into overtime. The two sides split last year, as Robert Morris ended Bryant's first-ever trip to the NEC Tournament with a 2-1 victory in the opening round. The Black and Gold are also 2-0-1 against the Colonials in Smithfield.

The Bulldogs have not fared as well against the Blackbirds (0-8), posting a 1-5-1 record, but have gone 1-0-1 in the last two meetings after dropping the first five encounters. Four of the seven matchups have been one-goal decisions and Bryant's only win over LIU was a 4-1 triumph in 2014.

Bryant will look to open up conference play strong and build on its 4-2-2 mark from a season ago. Freshman Remi Manna (Pleasantville, N.Y.) leads the team with five points on two goals and an assist, followed by junior Haley Reddish (Natick, Mass.) with four points on two scores and freshman Caitlyn Linden (Newtown, Conn.) and sophomore Alison Guilmette (Coventry, R.I.) with three points on a goal and assist apiece. Six other Bulldogs have added points, two with a pair of points on a goal and four with one assist each.

Junior mid Hannah Crofut (East Amherst, N.Y.) led the Bulldogs with five shots, two on net, in the 2014 1-1 draw against Robert Morris. Guilmette paced her squad with four shots, one on target being the lone goal in Bryant's 1-0 win over the Colonials in last year's regular-season contest.

Against the Blackbirds, Reddish ripped off five shots with three on frame in the 0-0 draw last season. In the 2014 matchup and the only win over LIU Brooklyn, Reddish and seniors Melaina Aglieco (Rocky Hill, Conn.) and Kianna Woods (Stafford Springs, Conn.) all had a goal.

Senior keeper Kaylan Conrad (Avon, Conn.) has also had success against both of this weekend's opponents. She has 20 saves and has allowed just four goals in four games with the Colonials and has made 11 stops versus the Blackbirds. The senior continues to lead the NEC with 1.03 goals-against average, as she sits second with a 0.825 save percentage and three shutouts.

Scouting the Colonials

The Colonials began the year 0-6, but have won two of their last four games. The offense has had difficulties replacing key members of last year's team. Of the six top scorers from 2015, only one returned this season, as senior Erin Ritzer had 13 points last year. She is tied for the team lead in 2016 with a goal and three assists and leads the league with over three shots per game, as sophomore Jane Schleicher has two goals and a helper.

Junior Greer Monahan has four points on a pair of goals and seniors Antonia Greese and Theresa Laux have added two points on a goal apiece. Junior mid Maleha Kureishy converted the penalty kick in the 83rd minute that gave the Colonials the win in the NEC Tourney last year. With the departures on the offensive end, the Colonials rank fifth in the NEC in scoring.  

Robert Morris also experienced change between the posts, as graduate senior Makenzie Shearson has appeared in all 10 games and made nine starts in her first year with the team. She holds a 2.48 goals-against average with 52 saves, good for a 0.703 save percentage.   

Scouting the Blackbirds

LIU Brooklyn ranks fourth in the conference with 0.75 goals per game, despite its 0-8 record. It has scored in four games, including multiple goals in two contests. The Blackbirds returned their two top scorers from a season ago in NEC All-Rookie Team selection Marian Awad and Second Team All-NEC pick Madison Gomez.

The two sit third and fourth on the team this season with three and two points, respectively. Senior Brooke Logel has four points on a pair of goals, and junior Jenn Peters is tied with Awad with three points (1g, 1a).

Sophomore keeper Aline Allmann has taken over in goal this season for the Blackbirds. She has been hammered with 95 shots on goal and makes 7.75 saves per game to rank eighth in the country. But due to the large number of shots faced and the defense providing little resistance against attempts, the Blackbirds allow 2.87 goals per game to rank eighth in the NEC.

Friday's match with the Colonials gets under way at 3:00 p.m., and Sunday's contest with the Blackbirds starts at 1:00 p.m. Both games can be followed along on Twitter @BryantGameday and streamed live online at NECFrontRow.com.