Bulldogs set eyes on fourth win, host Maine Friday at 4:00 p.m.

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Looking to end a two-game slide, the Bryant University women's soccer team hosts the University of Maine on Friday at 4:00 p.m.

Friday marks the fifth matchup between the Bulldogs (3-3) and Black Bears (3-2), with the last encounter coming in 2014. The away teams are 4-0 in the all-time series of two squads that have been trending in similar directions. After a 3-1 start to the year, the Bulldogs have lost a pair of 1-0 games. The Black Bears started the campaign 3-0, but dropped back-to-back 1-0 decisions as well.

Senior keeper Kaylan Conrad (Avon, Conn.) was in goal in both of the previous two matchups with the Black Bears, posting a 1-1 record with six saves. Senior Kianna Woods (Stafford Springs, Conn.) and junior Hannah Crofut (East Amherst, N.Y.) each had a shot on goal in the 2014 victory over Maine, and senior defender Abigail Smith (Kingston, N.H.) rifled off a shot on target in the 2013 loss.

The Black Bears have been led by senior Theresa Gosch and freshman Kaitlyn Ball with five (2g, 1a) and four points (1g, 2a), respectively. The two have been electric off the bench, combining to appear in eight games without a start. Sophomore Vivien Beil trails with three points on a goal and a helper in five starts, and classmates Kate Evans and Anetra Byfield along with freshman Nicole Bailey have all scored a goal in five starts.

The Black Bears have been slightly better defensively, allowing 0.60 goals per game to rank second in a deep America East Conference and 40th among Division I schools. True freshman goalie Annalena Kriebisch has been stout in five starts, allowing just three goals with 22 saves. She has posted a pair of shutouts and ranks second in the league and 36th nationally with a 0.880 save percentage.

Friday's matchup of two team's allowing fewer than one goal per outing kicks off at 4:00 p.m. The action can be seen live on NECFrontRow.com and followed along on Twitter @BryantGameday.