Photo by: DSPics.com
Photo by: DSPics.com

Bryant to finish home schedule this weekend

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – It is the final home weekend for the Bryant University women's soccer team, as the Bulldogs play host to Robert Morris on Friday before LIU Brooklyn comes to Smithfield on Sunday. Bryant enters the weekend one point out of the postseason with three matches to play.

Friday afternoon will be the program's "Bulldogs vs. Breast Cancer" match as Bryant Athletics continues to raise money and awareness for breast cancer in partnership with the Gloria Gemma Breast Cancer Resource Foundation. Sunday will be Senior Day, as the Bulldogs honor all six of their 2018 seniors with a pregame ceremony.

Friday's Particulars

Opponent: Robert Morris

Time: 3 p.m.

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

Live Stream: NEC Front Row

Live Stats: BryantBulldogs.com

The Series

The Bulldogs have won seven of the 10 overall meetings between the squads, losing just one. They have won the last two matchups, including a double-overtime victory last season in which sophomore Kylie Ratelle (Chicopee, Mass.) scored the winning goal from distance.

A bit about the Colonials

  • Robert Morris enters the weekend as one of those teams chasing a postseason spot, currently sitting at six points after a 2-0 win over in-state rival Saint Francis U on Saturday afternoon.
  • The Colonials are averaging a goal a game in conference play this season, allowing 1.40 goals per game defensively after their five matches.
  • Jane Schleicher is just outside the Top 30 in the country in goals per game, averaging 0.67 with a total of 10 on the year.
  • Bailey Farabaugh (four points) and Keli Rosensteel (three points) round out the top three on the team leaderboard.
  • Sydney Bruckner has made 11 starts between the posts, recording a 1.74 goals-against average and .812 save percentage on the season. She made three saves in a clean sheet effort over the Red Flash last weekend.

 

Sunday's Particulars

Opponent: LIU Brooklyn

Time: 1 p.m.

Senior Day Ceremony: 12:45 p.m. (streamed on Instagram @bryantwsoccer)

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

Live Stream: NEC Front Row

Live Stats: BryantBulldogs.com

The Series

The Blackbirds have won five of the nine overall meetings between the squads, but the Bulldogs are unbeaten in the last four matchups. This includes a 1-0 win over LIU Brooklyn last season that kept the Bulldogs in line for a postseason spot.

A bit about the Blackbirds

  • LIU Brooklyn begins back to back road matches to end their 2018 regular season on Sunday in Smithfield. They are coming off a 3-0 loss to league-leaders Central Connecticut in Brooklyn last Sunday.
  • The Blackbirds have scored just two goals in six conference matches this season while surrendering 10.
  • Marian Awad leads LIU with seven goals on the season. Both Kimberly Butland and Meredith Hill have chipped in two goals.
  • Sophomore Megan Virgin has started nine games in net for LIU Brooklyn, sitting on a 2.14 goals-against average and .782 save percentage entering the weekend.

Bulldogs Notes and Notables

  • Bryant is in the middle of a logjam for the final playoff spot in the Northeast Conference with three matches to play. The Bulldogs currently sit one behind Mount St. Mary's, who they play in the final game of the regular season, and one ahead of Robert Morris, who they will play on Friday. Sacred Heart is also in the mix at six points, but they have played six games.
  • The Bulldogs are led offensively by senior Cayla D'Amico (Grafton, Mass.) who has recorded eight points on the season with three goals and two assists.
  • Four different Bryant attackers have four points on the season, including freshmen Lexi Kraemer (Forest Hill, Md.) and Corinne Rey (Norton, Mass.) and sophomores Katie Cronin (Feeding Hills, Mass.) and Amanda Spitaleri (Ronkonkoma, N.Y.).
  • Sophomore Meghan Dalton (West Hartford, Conn.) is coming off a 12-save performance on Friday afternoon in New Britain, Conn. in Bryant's 2-1 loss to Central Connecticut. On the season, she sports a 1.28 goals-against average and .785 save percentage, playing all 1193 minutes in net.

Bryant clinches a postseason spot if…

  • The Bulldogs win twice this weekend AND Mount St. Mary's records a loss and tie OR two losses.

 

For an inside look at the Bryant University women's soccer program, be sure to follow them on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.