Bryant hosts CCSU, travels to Albany

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Capping off a season-long four-game home stretch, the Bryant University women's soccer team will welcome Northeast Conference foe Central Connecticut State University on Friday, Sept. 30 (3:30 p.m.) before hitting the road for its final non-conference match of the season, facing Albany on Sunday, Oct. 2 at 1 p.m.

Currently sitting in fourth place in the conference standings, the Bulldogs (4-4-2, 1-1 Northeast Conference) are an even 2-2-1 both in Smithfield and on the road during the 2011 campaign, while the Blue Devils (3-2-3, 0-0-1) have managed just a pair of ties during their two road contests.  Central Connecticut has played four games at neutral sites, going 1-2-1 in that span.

Bryant and Central Connecticut have met twice before, with the Blue Devils winning both matchups.  Most recently, the Bulldogs dropped a 1-0 decision on the road on Oct. 24, 2010.  Sophomore Lauren Viverito (Dayton Park, N.J.) posted three saves in that game.  Before that, CCSU came away with a 2-0 victory on Oct. 2, 2009 in Smithfield.

On Sunday, the Black and Gold will face off against the Great Danes (2-7-0, 0-1-0 America East) in Albany, N.Y., looking to avenge a defeat from last season, when the teams met for the first time ever.  Chelsea DeVerna and Aubrey VanGorder both scored during that Sept. 22, 2010 contest, propelling Albany to a 2-0 win in Smithfield.  On the season, Albany currently sits in seventh place in America East, having allowed a conference-high 2.67 goals per game through nine matches.

Scouting the Blue Devils

Predicted to finish fourth in the conference prior to the start of the season, the Blue Devils enter Friday's matchup on a four-game unbeaten streak, the second-best such streak in the conference, having gone 2-0-2 during that stretch.  They have won three times through their first eight games, and have gone 1-1 against common non-league opponents - posting a 2-1 victory over Providence College, a team Bryant battled to a 2-2 draw - while also dropping a 2-0 decision to Holy Cross, with the Crusaders also defeating the Bulldogs, 1-0 early this year. 

CCSU is led by rookie forward Rosie Maguire, who ranks second in the conference with 13 points (5g, 3a), while senior captain Brittany Jackson has posted seven points on three goals and one helper.  Sophomore Nikola Deiter has seen action in all eight games, logging 787:08 with a 1.37 goals against average and a .818 save percentage.

Scouting the Great Danes

Entering Thursday, Albany has lost five straight, and will travel to Durham, N.H. for a date with fellow AE opponent New Hampshire, who Bryant previously fought to a scoreless draw on Sunday, Sept. 18.  The one other common opponent between Bryant and Albany is Manhattan College, who defeated the Great Danes, 3-1, last Wednesday, Sept. 21.  The Bulldogs downed the Jaspers, 1-0, in early September.

At the top of Albany's scoring chart is VanGorder, a sophomore who has posted team-highs in goals (4) and points (8).  Meanwhile, senior Chrissy Klepper and junior DeVerna both have four points, with the former netting one goal and two helpers to account for her scoring, while the latter has found the back of the net twice.  Sophomore Dani Britt and freshman Jacky Ubert have split time between the posts, with Britt seeing more action this season.  The sophomore has started 8-of-9 games, going 2-6-0 overall while logging 573:39 of time in net and posting a 2.82 GAA to go with a .625 save percentage.  The rookie Ubert (0-1-0) has started once and has appeared in four games, posting a 2.13 GAA and a .769 save percentage. 

Pull That Trigger

The Black and Gold have not been afraid to put the ball on net in 2011, as they have averaged a conference-high 18.20 shots per game.  Bryant was limited to six shot attempts against Providence in the season opener, but since then has not registered fewer than 12 shot attempts in a game, with a season-high 37 attempts coming against Manhattan College on Sept. 2.

During their first 10 games, the Bulldogs have registered 20 or more shots on three different occasions.  Factoring in to those figures are senior Kaitlyn Hinck (Bow, N.H.), with a team-leading 26 shots attempted, while junior Alex Bengston (Andover, Mass.) and sophomore Ari Goldberg (East Bridgewater, Mass.) are tied for second with 21 shots.

Corner Kings

Bryant currently sits atop the Northeast Conference in corner kicks, having accumulated 69 over the season with a conference-high 6.90 per game.

RPI Watch

The NCAA released its first Ratings Percentage Index (RPI) report in the 2011 season on Wednesday, Sept. 28, with Bryant clocking in at 164th in the country - up all the way from 295th place, where the Bulldogs found themselves at the end of the 2010 season.

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Next up for the Bulldogs will be a trip to Brooklyn, N.Y., where they will continue league play against Long Island University on Friday, Oct. 7.  Game time is set for 6:30 p.m.

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