In-state showdown between Bulldogs and Friars set for Thursday at 7 p.m.

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – The Bryant University women's soccer team travels just down the road to take on Providence College on Thursday at 7 p.m.

The Bulldogs enter their third regular season game at 0-2, while the Friars land at the other end of the spectrum at 2-0 after defeating Marist and Syracuse.

Providence finished last season 9-8-2 overall and 5-4-0 in the BIG EAST, earning a spot in the conference tournament, where it lost to Marquette, 2-0, in the first round.  

After being named to the ALL-BIG EAST First Team in 2014, Friars' senior Catherine Zimmerman wasted no time getting going in this season's first two games, scoring one goal off of the team-leading 13 shots. Junior goalkeeper and reigning BIG EAST Goalkeeper of the Week Kristyn Shea is back in net for Providence, having already accumulated eight saves with just one goal against in the pair of games.

"I think Providence will be a good challenge for our team, and we are excited and ready to play again," head coach Andy Biggs said. "Looking ahead, we will continue to focus on building greater consistency into our game, as that will be an important step in taking our game to the next level."

The Bulldogs continue to try to find a combination of 11 players that will produce at the highest rate. Sophomore Hannah Crofut (East Amherst, N.Y.) has manufactured four shots through the first two games alongside fellow midfielder Alex Ralph (Peterborough, Ont.), who has contributed three of Bryant's 14 total shots.

Junior goalkeeper Kaylan Conrad (Avon, Conn.) has been put to the test early in the season, tallying eight saves off 36 opponent shots. Conrad has seen the majority of time in net for the Bulldogs, but Biggs has also tested the waters with sophomore Rachel Brightman (Rochester, N.Y.). Brightman has totaled just shy of 29 minutes between the pipes, scooping up one save in two games.

Fans can watch Friday's game and follow along with live stats at bryantbulldogs.com.