BULLDOG SOCCER PROGRAMS PREPARE FOR BUSY WEEKEND
October 8, 2009
BULLDOG SOCCER PROGRAMS PREPARE FOR BUSY WEEKEND
SMITHFIELD, R.I. - After both starting 0-2 in Northeast Conference play, the Bryant soccer programs will each have two chances to earn their first NEC victory of the 2009 campaign this weekend.
The women's squad, with Chris Flint at the helm, faces off against a talented Monmouth (7-3-1, 2-0-1) team who currently sits in first place atop the conference. The Bulldogs (2-7, 0-2) will host the Hawks at 7 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 9 at the Bryant Turf Complex. The women return to action two days later on Sunday, Oct. 11 when they host Mount St. Mary's (3-7-2, 1-1-1) at 1 p.m. in the first half of a Bryant soccer doubleheader at Bulldog Stadium.
The last time out, women's soccer dropped a double overtime decision on a goal scored in the 102nd minute at Quinnipiac on Sunday, Oct. 4. Quinnipiac (2-5-1, 1-1) sophomore Kristina Del Mistro, the younger sister of Bryant junior Steph Del Mistro (East Williston, N.Y.), set up a give-and-go with freshman Jillian Strassner in the 102nd minute to assist on the game-winning goal. Strassner sent a pass to Del Mistro who gave it right back and the freshman was able to drill the ball in the right corner of the net for the game winner. Bulldog keeper Kelsi Jacob (Mahwah, N.J.) recorded a career high 10 saves in the game as the Bulldogs were outshot 23-17.
The Bryant men's team (2-8-0, 0-2-0) enters a tough stretch of games as both of their weekend opponents are ranked in the top four in the NSCAA North Atlantic Region and Monmouth, who the men host on Friday, Oct. 16 is currently ranked 10th in the nation in the NSCAA poll. On Friday, Oct. 9 the Bulldogs will travel to Hamden, Conn. to face off with Quinnipiac at 3 p.m. The Bobcats (4-0-5, 1-0-1) sit in fourth place in the North Atlantic region and tied for first atop the NEC. The Bulldogs return home on Sunday, Oct. 11 when they host Central Connecticut in the second half of the Bryant soccer doubleheader at Bulldog Stadium.
Follow every soccer game this weekend by clicking the "Live Stats" link at the top of the page.