Bulldogs open weekend at Sacred Heart

WOMEN'S SOCCER LOOKS TO FINISH STRONG WITH ONLY FOUR MATCHES LEFT

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – After defeating Quinnipiac, 2-1, on Sunday, the Bryant University women's soccer team will look to finish the season strong as it prepares for two crucial conference games over the weekend. 

The Bulldogs (8-7, 3-3 NEC) currently sit in fourth place in the Northeast Conference standings with only four games remaining on their schedule (top four teams advance to the NEC postseason tournament). Bryant will head to Sacred Heart on Friday for a primetime showdown with Pioneers (7 p.m.) before heading back to Smithfield to host Farleigh Dickinson, Sunday at 12 p.m.

On Sunday, Junior Shana Follette (Plymouth, Mass.) wasted no time notching her fifth score of 2012 in the first minute of the match, heading in a rebound off Bobcat keeper Jill Kelley. Senior Regan Marin (Bedford, N.Y.) fired a shot, blocked by Kelley, allowing Follette to grant the Bulldogs an early 1-0 advantage.

The Bobcats were able to equalize in the 21st minute off a penalty kick goal by Shauna Edwards. Bryant was whistled for a handball in the box, granting Quinnipiac a penalty kick, which Edwards snuck past Bryant keeper Kelsi Jacob (Mahwah, N.J.) to even the score at 1-1.

The Bulldogs were able pick up one more score just before the first half expired. Junior Julie Vajda (Midland Park, N.J.) collected the ball off a Bobcat defender and fired a rocket from 25 yards out to the far post in what turned out to be the game-winning goal.

Bryant will head to Fairfield, Conn., for a 7 p.m. match with Sacred Heart on Friday. The Pioneers enter the weekend with a 5-7-1 overall record, 2-2-1 in the NEC, most recently playing Mount St. Mary's to a scoreless tie on Sunday. Senior Jennifer Mulvey has recorded four of her team's 12 total goals while classmate Sydney Judkins has appeared in all 13 matches for the Pioneers, posting an impressive .84 goals against average. Last season, Sacred Heart defeated the Bulldogs, 2-0, in Smithfield.

"Sacred Heart is a very tough place to play," said Bryant head coach Chris Flint. "We have always had tough games against them in the past and I don't expect anything different on Friday."

On Sunday, the Bulldogs will host Fairleigh Dickinson at 12 p.m. on Sutton Field. The Knights open weekend play with a 4-7-3 overall mark, 1-4 in the NEC. Freshman Rachel Hoekstra leads the team with 18 points (8 g, 2 a), good for second in the NEC (in points and goals). Junior Sage DoVale has logged all but 12 minutes in goal for the Knights, shutting out three opponents while posting a 1.10 goals against average. Last season, the Bulldogs blanked Fairleigh Dickinson, 3-0, in Teaneck, N.J., with a two-goal effort from Mary Green (Merrick, N.Y.).

With less than two weeks of the regular season remaining, every game is vital for the Bulldogs' postseason hopes.

For the link to live stats of both games and all the latest on Bryant University women's soccer, visit BryantBulldogs.com.