Bulldogs to battle Sacred Heart, Fairleigh Dickinson in big NEC weekend

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – In a weekend of two Top 4 Northeast Conference matchups, the Bryant University women's soccer team battles Sacred Heart at the Bulldog Soccer Field on Friday afternoon before traveling to Teaneck, N.J. to take on Fairleigh Dickinson on Sunday.

Friday's Particulars

Opponent: Sacred Heart

Kickoff: 3:00 p.m. EDT

Video: NEC Front Row

Live Stats: Presto Sports

Series History

• The nine matches between the Pioneers and Bulldogs have been split evenly, with three wins per side and three draws in the Division I era. The Bulldogs are unbeaten in three of the last four meetings, including a 1-0 win the last time they played in Smithfield in 2015.

A bit about the Pioneers

• Sacred Heart enters Friday afternoon at a 5-9 record in 2017, splitting their four matches in NEC play so far. They pulled out 1-0 victories against Robert Morris and Mount St. Mary's, while losing 2-0 to Saint Francis U and 1-0 to Central Connecticut.
• They have lost four of their last five games on the road this season and have only won twice in nine tries away from Fairfield, Conn.
• The junior duo of Alex Mesropyan and Melanie DaSilva have combined for 17 points this season, with Mesropyan recording nine (4g, 1a) and DaSilva compiling eight (3g, 2a).
• In net, Nicole Sambuco has started all 14 games, recording a 1.69 goals-against average and .742 save percentage.

Sunday's Particulars

Opponent: Fairleigh Dickinson

Kickoff: 12:00 p.m. EDT

Video: NEC Front Row

Live Stats: Sidearm Stats

Series History

• FDU leads the all-time series 4-3 with one draw. The Knights have taken the last four matchups.

A bit about the Knights

• The Knights enter the weekend with a 5-7-2 record, but unbeaten in conference play, winning their first three matches.
• Unbeaten in their last four matches, Fairleigh Dickinson played Cornell to a draw in their final non-conference match and then won their first three NEC matches by a combined score of 7-1 against Central Connecticut, Wagner and LIU Brooklyn.
• FDU has three players in double figures in points this season, with Sofia Albertsson (14), Viktorija Miseljic (13) and Elma Kolenovic (12) leading the Knights attack. They take up three of the Top 7 spots on the conference leaderboard in that category.
• Amanda Fitzgerald leads the Knights in net, recording 1.62 goals-against average and .750 save percentage in 12 starts this season.

Bulldogs Notes and Notables

• Sophomore Remi Manna's (Pleasantville, N.Y.) goal on Sunday afternoon was the fourth game-winning goal of her career, which leads all Bulldogs.
• The Bulldogs defense has recorded four shutouts in six games at the Bulldog Soccer Field with a goals-against average of 0.31.
• Freshman Becca Michaud (Westport, Mass.) has recorded the first two points of her career in the last three games. Both were assists on the game-winning goal in the contests.
• In net, senior Rachel Brightman (Rochester, N.Y.) has allowed just one goal in her last 308 minutes between the posts, recording seven saves in that span.