Bulldogs host a pair this weekend

WOMEN'S SOCCER HOSTS DELAWARE ST. FRIDAY AND UVM SUNDAY IN SMITHFIELD

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – The Bryant University women's soccer team will welcome Delaware St. and Vermont to Smithfield as part of a jam-packed weekend on the Bryant campus.

Bryant begins weekend play with the Hornets on Friday at 3 p.m. before a faceoff with the Catamounts on Sunday at 2 p.m. Both games will be played at Sutton Field. The Bulldogs (3-4) will look to get back in the win column after dropping a pair of games over the weekend in Colorado Springs, Colo.

On Friday night against Colorado College, the Black and Gold ran into a difficult Tiger team, getting shut out for the first time all season, 4-0. Bryant was outshot 20-4 in the match, and found themselves down early after allowing three first-half goals. Goalkeeper Lauren Viverito (Dayton, N.J.) recorded a season-high eight saves in her sixth start of the season.

On Sunday, Bryant had chances but could not find the back of the net for the second straight game in a 1-0 loss to Air Force. The best opportunity came with seven minutes left in the contest when freshman Rachael Ivanicki (Colts Neck, N.J.) beat Air Force keeper Kelly Stambaugh and fired a shot that just nicked the far post.

"We played very well in the second half and we had our opportunities," said head coach Chris Flint. "We just had a lapse of about 20 minutes at the end of the first half and they were able to take advantage."

Delaware St. enters Friday's contest in search of its first Win of 2012. The Hornets finished last season 2-15-2, going 1-4-1 in the Great West. They return their top two scorers from a year ago in seniors Theresa Wappett and Jeanette Salgado, who each tallied three goals in 2011. Last time out, the Hornets fell, 2-0, to in-state-rival Delaware. Sophomore goalkeeper Katelyn Koslosky recorded eight saves in the contest.

Vermont heads to Rhode Island for a pair of weekend matches. The Catamounts will first head to URI on Friday evening for a showdown with the Rams before visiting Smithfield on Sunday afternoon to do battle with the Bulldogs.

UVM enters the weekend with a record of 1-5, with the lone win coming against Bryant-foe Central Connecticut St. Most recently, Vermont lost to Brown in Burlington, Vt., on Saturday. Despite outshooting the Bears, 11-5, a first half Brown goal was too much for the Catamounts to overcome. Thus far through six games, sophomore Bre Pletnick leads the team with three goals.

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