Women's soccer hosts UNH on Sunday

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SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Returning to the friendly confines of Bulldog stadium for the first time in four games, the Bryant University women's soccer team will look to bounce back from a tough loss, taking on the University of New Hampshire on Sunday, Sept. 18.  Game time is set for 1 p.m.

After wrapping up a four-game road trip on a 2-2 mark, the Bulldogs (3-3-1) will look to climb back over .500 on the season against the Wildcats (1-6), with the two teams having met just once before.  New Hampshire came away with a 1-0 victory in Durham, N.H. a year ago, after Brooke Duchaney finished a cross from Chelsea Kuss in the middle of the net to put the home team on top in the 38^th minute, and that would be all the offense between both teams.  Kelsi Jacob (Mahwah, N.J.) finished that game with a pair of saves, while UNH goaltender Erica Correa stopped three shots to give the Wildcats the victory.

During Bryant's four-game stint away from the Ocean State, rookie forward Suzanne Sanders (West Chester, Pa.) has stolen the show, emerging as a true threat on the wing with blazing speed and a dangerous shot.  The freshman scored twice during that span, with goals coming against Navy and George Washington during the Navy Invitational.  For her efforts, she was named adidas/NEC Rookie of the Week for the second time this season.

As expected, senior captain Kaitlyn Hinck (Bow, N.H.) is among the team's offensive leaders, as she and Sanders are atop the chart with five points apiece (2g, 1a).  The squad's lone adidas/NEC Player of the Week in 2011, sophomore Shana Follette (Plymouth, Mass.) is right behind with four points on a pair of markers.  Senior captains Mary Green (Merrick, N.Y.) and Stephanie Morse (Warwick, R.I.) have helped limit opponents to just over two goals per game, while Jacob and sophomore Lauren Viverito (Dayton Park, N.J.) have split time between the pipes, garnering 23 saves altogether.

Most recently, the Black and Gold were handed a heartbreaking 1-0 loss on the road against Holy Cross.  For the second time this season, the opposing squad scored a goal in the final minute of regulation, as Gina Righini headed home a shot from Lauren Wright to put the Crusaders up 1-0 at 89:17.  Carly McCabe stole the show for the home team, posting eight saves to earn the shutout against the Bulldogs.  Altogether, Bryant attempted 16 shots in the game, while an impressive effort by the backline limited Holy Cross to just five, with three on target.  Jacob (2-2-0) finished the game with two saves on three attempts.

The Wildcats most recently were handed a 1-0 loss at home against Brown despite a nine-save effort by Correa.  Chloe Cross found the back of the net late in the second half after beating a defender and firing a shot home from the top of the box for a strike in the 84^th minute.  On the season, three players have tallied goals for UNH, with Duchaney, Stephanie Gilkenson and Jordyn Krall all finding the back of the net.  Correa has started all seven games, logging 582 minutes and posting a 1.69 goals against average to go with a .744 save percentage.

Through seven games, the Bryant offense has emerged as one of the most dangerous in the Northeast Conference despite being snake bitten on a few occasions.  The Bulldogs lead the NEC in total shots by a wide margin, having attempted 150 shots through seven games.  Defensively, Bryant's two shutouts rank tied for second in the league, while the Bulldogs' 45 corners top the conference as well.

The Bulldogs will be back in action on Friday, Sept. 23, when they kick off conference play at home against Wagner.  Game time is set for 3:30 p.m.

For continuing coverage of Bryant women's soccer, check back at www.bryantbulldogs.com, and follow the coaching staff on Twitter @CoachCFlint, @mash513, and @stephski9.