Bryant faces CCSU, MSMU this weekend

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Capping off a season-long four-game homestand, the Bryant University men's soccer team will look to pick up its first conference win of the season this weekend when it hosts Northeast Conference opponents Central Connecticut State on Friday, Oct. 14, before wrapping up the weekend with a match against Mount St. Mary's on Sunday, Oct. 16.  Game times are set for 3 p.m. and 1 p.m., respectively.

The Bulldogs (1-8-1, 0-4 NEC) will face two more strong foes this weekend, as the Blue Devils (6-6-0, 3-1) enter Friday tied for second in the conference standings and are riding a three-game winning streak, while their three conference victories through four games marks the most NEC wins for CCSU since the 2008 season.  The Blue Devils also are ranked seventh in the latest Continental Tires/NSCAA Regional Rankings.

In the series history, Bryant has gone 1-1-1 against CCSU since 2008, most recently fighting to a scoreless draw in New Britain on Oct. 17, 2010.  The season before, the Bulldogs came away with a one-goal win over the Blue Devils, edging CCSU, 3-2, at home on Oct. 11, 2009.

Following a pair of wins last weekend, CCSU's Eddy Bogle will look to carry over some personal success, as the sophomore notched his second and third career goals against Robert Morris and Saint Francis (PA).  Bogle has been pivotal toward the team's success during its current run, as he has scored three times in Central's last three games - all victories.

Sophomore goalkeeper Anthony Occhialini was stellar between the posts for the Blue Devils last weekend, garnering a pair of shutouts over two games.  Dating back to Central's 2-1 victory over Monmouth – which handed the Hawks their first NEC loss since the 2009 season – the netminder has gone over 235 minutes without allowing a goal.  On the season, he has limited opponents to 1.05 goals per game, while posting a .780 save percentage on 39 saves over 946:00 of action – good for a 6-4 record.

On offense, the Blue Devils have been paced by junior forward Reece Wilson, who leads the team with eight points on three goals and two assists.  Bogle ranks second on the squad with six points (3 goals), while six others have also found the back of the net once.  Sophomore Jesse Menzies (5 points) leads the team in assists with three.

The Mountaineers (5-5-1, 2-2) head to Smithfield coming off a 1-1 weekend, falling to conference leader Fairleigh Dickinson, 2-0, last Friday before downing Long Island, 3-2, on Sunday at home.  The Bulldogs will look to limit the Mount's chances in the first half, as they are 5-0 when the squad posts a goal in the first stanza.  Bryant will also be looking for its first-ever win over the Mount, falling by a 4-3 margin last season in Maryland.

Senior Chris Wheeler (3 goals, 3 assists, 9 points in 2011) scored a goal and dished an assist in the team's victory against LIU on Sunday.  He has had a knack for finding the twine within the opening seconds of a game, as his marker against the Blackbirds came 28 seconds into the match, which was the fastest the Mountaineers have scored in a game since Wheeler recorded a goal 18 seconds into last year's game against the Bulldogs on Oct. 22, 2010.

The senior also tied the program's Division I record for points in a career with 80 by virtue of his assist in the 87^th minute against LIU.  Wheeler now has 36 goals and eight assists for 80 points in his career, and already owns the program record for shots in career (282) and goals for a career (36) and in a season (13 in 2010).

Zoncher Dennis sits atop the team leader board in scoring, as the freshman sensation leads the NEC in points (19), points per game (1.90), goals (9) and goals per game (0.90).  Ian Hendrie has also dished a team-high six helpers to rank second in scoring with 10 points.  The senior also has found the back of the net twice during the 2011 campaign.

Goaltending duties have been handled solely by Peter Steve, and the senior has gone 1016:44 in net while posting a 1.15 GAA to go with a .711 save percentage.

For continuing coverage of Bryant University men's soccer, check back at www.bryantbulldogs.com, and be sure to follow the Bulldogs on Twitter @BryantAthletics.