Men's soccer releases 2014 schedule

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Coming off a trip to the Northeast Conference Tournament Finals in 2013, the Bryant University men's soccer team is excited to announce its 2014 schedule as it looks to make it back-to-back trips to the postseason for the first time in Division I program history.

Last November, the Bulldogs came seconds away from earning their first-ever NEC Tournament Title, and with nearly their entire squad back this fall, the expectations have never been higher in Smithfield. Last year's top scorers, Brett Larocque (Ottawa, Ont.) and Connor Norat (Wilmington, Del.), and two-year starting goalkeeper Chris Knaub (Yarmouth, Maine), will all be back for the Black and Gold in 2014, along with veteran defenders Shane Murphy (Kennet Square, Pa.) and Jake Lamar (New Haven, Conn.).

After a somewhat pedestrian showing in the non-conference portion of its 2013 schedule, Bryant will look to start things off on the right foot this fall, opening their schedule vs. Providence on Friday, Aug. 29 (3 p.m.) in Smithfield, before closing the opening weekend with a match at New Hampshire on Aug. 31.

The following weekend, the Bulldogs will trek to Buffalo, New York, for contests with the University of Buffalo on Sept. 5 and Canisius on Sept. 7. Bryant will return home on Thursday, Sept. 11 for a showdown with UMass Lowell before visiting Rider on Sept. 14. The Black and Gold open a five-game homestand on Saturday, Sept. 20 vs. St. Peter's, followed by URI on Sept. 24 and Hartwick on Sept. 28 to wrap-up the non-conference slate.

After a nearly two-week break, the Bulldogs will open NEC play with matches vs. Robert Morris on Friday, Oct. 10, and Saint Francis U. on Sunday, Oct. 12. The following week forces a deviation from the regular Friday/Sunday routine with a trip to Sacred Heart on Saturday, Oct. 18, before heading back home for games vs. LIU Brooklyn (Oct. 24) and St. Francis Brooklyn (Oct. 26).

The Black and Gold close out the regular season on the road when they visit Fairleigh Dickinson on Sunday, Nov. 2, and Central Connecticut on Sunday, Nov. 9. The 2014 NEC Tournament will be held at the regular season's top seed on Nov. 14 and 16.

For the full 2014 Bryant University men's soccer schedule, click here.