Bulldogs host UNH, visit UVM over weekend

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Coming off its only loss of September, the Bryant University women's soccer team will look to climb back to .500 with a pair of matches against America East opponents over the weekend.

On Friday, the Bulldogs welcome New Hampshire to Smithfield for a 3 p.m. start before heading to Burlington, Vt., for a showdown with Vermont on Sunday (1 p.m.).

After a tough start, the Black and Gold opened the month of September with a perfect 3-0 start, outscoring opponents, 6-1, during that stretch. On Friday, Sept. 13, Bryant ran into a very tough Rutgers team, falling, 4-0, in Piscataway, N.J.

Suzanne Sanders (West Chester, Pa.) leads the Bulldogs with six points on a trio of scores, while Rachael Ivanicki (Colts Neck, N.J.) sits just behind Sanders with a pair of markers through seven games. Freshman keeper Kaylan Conrad (Avon, Conn.) has posted a 2-3 mark in five starts in her first year donning the Black and Gold, allowing just 1.27 goals per match.

The Wildcats come to Smithfield on Friday sporting a 2-4-1 overall record coming off a 2-1 victory over Harvard on Wednesday, Sept. 11. Freshman Kirsten O'Neil leads UNH with three points on one goal and one helper, while four Wildcats sit tied with two points each. Senior Erica Correa has logged over 400 minutes in net, earning five starts, while freshman Mimi Borkan has seen substantial time between the pipes as well. The Bulldogs and Wildcats last faced off in 2011 in Smithfield and despite 39 shots between the two squads, the game ended in a scoreless tie.

On Sunday, Bryant will make the trek north to Burlington, Vt., for a 1 p.m. match against Vermont. The Catamounts enter weekend action with a 2-5 overall record coming off a tough, 3-2 overtime loss at Siena on Wednesday. Caitie Green leads UVM with four points on a pair of goals, while Nikki McFarland enters the weekend with one goal and one assist. Ally Ramos has started every game for the Catamounts between the pipes, posting a 2.11 goals-against-average in just under 600 minutes played. Vermont will host fellow Northeast Conference foe Fairleigh Dickinson on Friday before welcoming the Bulldogs Sunday.

Last year in Smithfield, seniors Shana Follette (Plymouth, Mass.), Julie Vajda (Midland Park, N.J.) and Ari Goldberg (East Bridgewater, Mass.) found the back of the net en route to a 3-1 Bryant W.

The Bulldogs will look to get back on track with just four contests remaining untilNEC play begins on Oct. 6.

For all the latest news on the Bryant University women's soccer team, visit BryantBulldogs.com.