Bulldogs visit UMass Thursday at 4 pm

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – With just two matches until Northeast Conference play kicks off, the Bryant University women's soccer team will head to UMass on Thursday (4 p.m.) for its lone match of the week.

The Bulldogs (4-5) enter Thursday's action coming off a tough a 1-1 weekend, while the Minutewomen picked up a dramatic 2-1 OT win over Northeastern Sunday afternoon to improve to 3-5-1.

On Friday, the Black and Gold dominated play from start to finish in possible their most complete game of the season. With a first half score from junior midfielder Katy Biagi (Natick, Mass.) and a second frame penalty kick goal from senior forward Shana Follette (Plymouth, Mass.), the Bulldogs cruised to a shutout win behind the strong play of freshman keeper Kaylan Conrad (Avon, Conn.).

On Sunday, Bryant was thwarted by a stingy Vermont defensive unit, anchored by goalkeeper Ally Ramos who stopped a total of 11 Bulldogs chances en route to a 2-1 loss. Despite the result, senior Ari Goldberg (East Bridgewater, Mass.) found the back of the net on a beautiful snipe from just outside of the box for her first goal of the 2013 season.

The Minutewomen are led by senior forward Brittany Moore's eight points on three goals and a pair of helpers, trailed closely by junior midfielder Allyssa D'Arcy's trio of tallys. Redshirt freshman Danielle Kriscenski has logged every minute in goal for UMass, allowing just 15 goals through nine starts this season. Last August, the Minutewomen just narrowly escaped Smithfield with a 3-2 victory over the Bulldogs. Despite a second half score by Goldberg, two early goals from UMass were too much for the Black and Gold to overcome.

Bryant will look to use the next two games to build some much needed momentum heading into NEC play in less than two weeks.

For links to live stats and streaming video of Thursday's action and all the latest news on the Bryant University women's soccer team, visit BryantBulldogs.com.