Bryant hosts UMass Wednesday

Bulldogs (1-0) will look to remain unbeaten on the season against Minutewomen (0-1)

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – The Bryant University women's soccer team will welcome the UMass Minutewomen to Smithfield on Wednesday (Aug. 22) afternoon for its home opener at Bulldog Stadium. Game time is set for 3 p.m.

The Bulldogs (1-0) will look to stay unbeaten on the young season after coming off a 2-1 victory over the University of Maine in their season opener last Friday. The Minutewomen (0-1) are still looking for their first W of 2012 after dropping their season opener, 2-1, against #6 UCLA.

In Friday's game at Maine, neither team wasted much time getting on the board. In the third minute, Maine sophomore Jordan Pellerin followed up a ricochet off the post for her first score of the young season, giving the Black Bears an early 1-0 advantage. Just over three minutes later, junior Shana Follette (Plymouth, Mass.) evened the score for the Bulldogs on a pass from freshman Allison DeBenedictis (Norwell, Mass.). In what proved to be the game-winning goal, senior Regan Marin (Bedford, N.Y.) elevated above the pack to head in a direct kick from junior Alyssa Kozlowski (Ellicott City, Md.) in the 31st minute, to give Bryant a one-goal edge heading into halftime. The Bulldogs would not relinquish the lead, after four second-half-saves from junior goalkeeper Lauren Viverito (Dayton, N.J.) solidified the victory.

The Minutewomen meanwhile, are coming off a Sunday afternoon loss against #6 UCLA. After playing even with the nationally-ranked Bruins in the opening half, a redirection off a free kick by sophomore Abby Dahlkemper in the 52nd minute lifted UCLA past the Minutewomen, 2-1. Sophomore Moa Mattsson netted the only goal for UMass off a rebound in the 44th minute.

After coming off an Atlantic 10 runner-up performance in 2011, the Minutewomen return seven starters, including all-region senior goalkeeper Emily Cota. On the offensive end UMass will look to its two lead returning scorers, sophomores Moa Mattsson and Tori Sousa, as they prepare to build on their promising freshman campaigns.

Wednesday's game is sure to be a highly contested match as UMass comes to Smithfield looking for revenge. Last September, the Bulldogs picked up a 4-1 win on the road against the Minutewomen in Amherst. Junior Shana Follette (Plymouth, Mass.) tallied two scores while classmate Ari Goldberg (East Bridgewater, Mass.) had one goal lifting Bryant to victory.

For links to streaming video and live stats of Wednesday's game and for all the latest information on Bryant University women's soccer, visit BryantBulldogs.com.