Photo by: DSPics.com
Photo by: DSPics.com
Posted: Aug 22, 2018

Ocean State rivalry to resume Thursday in Smithfield

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – The Bryant University women's soccer team plays the second of their four-game homestand to start the season on Thursday, when they take on in-state rival Rhode Island at 4 p.m. at the Bulldog Soccer Field.

The Particulars

Opponent: Rhode Island

Time: 4 p.m.

Location: Bulldog Soccer Field | Smithfield, R.I.

Live Stream: NEC Front Row (PxP: Tristan Hobbes)

Live Stats: Presto Sports

The Series

This will be the 27th all-time meeting between the teams in a series that dates back to Bryant's inaugural season in 1979. Rhode Island has won 20 of the 26 previous meetings with one draw. Last season, Bryant won their first-ever game in Kingston, R.I., a 3-0 victory over the Rams. Senior Alison Guilmette (Coventry, R.I.) recorded a goal and an assist and sophomore Amanda Spitaleri (Ronkonkoma, N.Y.) headed home a Guilmette cross.

Bulldogs Notes and Notables

  • Bryant opened the 2018 season with a 3-0 defeat at the hands of Quinnipiac on Monday afternoon.
  • Four different Bulldogs put shots on frame as the team fired a total of nine shots in the match, with six coming in the second 45.
  • Sophomore Katie Cronin (Feeding Hills, Mass.) was the most persistent attacker, registering three shots with one on frame.
  • Sophomore Meghan Dalton (West Hartford, Conn.) played her first wire-to-wire contest between the posts as a Bulldog, making two second-half saves on Monday.
  • Freshmen Kellie Errasti (Duxbury, Mass.) and Chae Diani (Milton, Mass.) made their first career starts and appearances for the Bulldogs. Sophomore Kristen Bortolotti (Foxborough, Mass.), along with freshmen Corinne Rey (Norton, Mass.) and Eleni Spiratos (Fresh Meadows, N.Y.) also made their first career appearance for the Black and Gold.

A bit about the Rams

  • Rhody opened the 2018 season with a 4-3 overtime defeat at the hands of New Hampshire. After falling behind 2-0, they scored three in the second half before UNH tied the game in the 84th minute and won it in the 100th.
  • Kelly Maya scored two goals in 61 seconds for the Rams to tie the game in the second half. Both tallies were assisted by Rebecca D'Anna.
  • Haley Brennan made eight saves for the Rams in net.
  • Under second-year head coach Megan Jesse, Rhode Island was picked 14th in the Atlantic 10 Preseason Coaches' Poll.