Bulldogs open 2017 season on Friday night at URI

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – The Bryant University women's soccer team opens the 2017 season on Friday evening when they travel to Kingston to face in-state rival Rhode Island. First touch is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.

The Bulldogs and Rams will be meeting for the first time since 2015, a 4-2 victory for Friday's hosts. URI owns a 5-1 lead in the all-time series that dates back to the 2011-12 season. Bryant's only win was a 3-1 decision at home in 2013.

Bryant enters Friday's opener having gone 1-0-2 in three exhibition matchups. A great deal of that has to do with the experience that the Black and Gold have coming back this season. Coming off their second-straight winning season in Northeast Conference play, the Bulldogs return 10 players that started 10+ games a season ago and seven players that contributed goals last season.

The Black and Gold's biggest strength might be at the defensive end where All-NEC Second Teamer senior Amber Thomas (Rochester, N.Y.) returns. Along with fellow classmate Brigitte Donaghy (Toronto, Ont.), Bryant will look to improve upon the seven shutouts it posted in 2017.

Bryant also welcomes back its leading scorer in senior Haley Reddish (Natick, Mass.). Reddish produced three goals and three assists for nine points last season. She'll be joined by classmate and All-NEC Second Team selection Hannah Crofut (East Amherst, N.Y.) and NEC All-Rookie selection Remi Manna (Pleasantville, N.Y.).

The Rams will have a new look this season as Megan Jessee begins her first season as head coach on Friday night. URI went 6-8-5 last year, advancing to the quarterfinals of the Atlantic-10 Tournament. Picked to finish 11th in the 14-team A-10, the Rams return 22 players from last year's roster.

URI welcomes back two of its top three scorers in Allyson Reynolds and Taylor Ross. Reynolds led the Rams with five goals and an assist as a freshman, while Ross contributed four goals and an assist.