SMITHFIELD, R.I. - The Fairleigh Dickinson men's soccer team (4-5-2, 2-0-1 NEC) looks to remain hot in Northeast Conference play this fall as the Knights pay Bryant (3-4-2, 2-1-0 NEC) a visit on Sunday, October 10, live on NEC Front Row with kickoff scheduled for 3 p.m.
Match Info
FDU (4-5-2, 2-0-1 NEC) at Bryant (3-4-2, 2-1-0 NEC)
Sunday, October 10, at 3 p.m. -- Bulldog Soccer Field (Smithfield, R.I.)
Coverage:
NEC Front Row |
Live Stats
In-Match Updates:
@FDUKnightsMSOC
All-Time Series
FDU trails 4-6-2
Streak...L4
First Meeting...10/25/09 (FDU 3, Bryant 0)
Last Meeting...4/1/21 (Bryant 3, FDU 2)
Scouting the Bulldogs
Bryant heads into Sunday's match coming off a 2-1 opening record in NEC action this season with the Bulldogs notching back-to-back wins over Mount St. Mary's (3-1) and St. Francis Brooklyn (2-0) before falling to LIU in their most recent match by a 2-1 tally. Sunday's home side will hit their own pitch for just the second time in NEC play with Bryant hosting Mount St. Mary's in their conference opener on September 26, before hitting the road for the following two contests. The Bulldogs' graduate student goalkeeper Jack Bacon comes into the game as the probable starter in net for his team as he's started six of his seven games played in the fall 2021 campaign. Bacon ranks second in the country in saves per game with 6.43. He also ranks third in the conference in saves (45) and is tied for second in save percentage (.818). Offensively, Bryant ranks first in goals per game (1.56), third in goals (14) and third in assists (12) in the NEC.
Scouting the Knights
FDU currently sits in sole possession of second place in the NEC table with seven points behind LIU's nine. Seth Roland's side made history in their last game back on October 3 when the Burgundy and Blue defeated Merrimack on the road 2-1 in overtime, handing the Warriors their first-ever conference home defeat since joining the NEC for the 2019-20 academic year. Junior Jordan Alonge opened the scoring for the Knights in the 67', equalizing 33' strike by the home team, thanks to an assist from freshman Kevin Leonhard, earning him his first career conference statistical points. In the overtime period, senior forward Diego Arribas delivered the game-winner off a free kick in the 97', giving FDU their second NEC victory of the season. As a team, the Knights rank second in shots taken within the NEC sitting with 47 shots through 11 matches played, averaging 15.67 shots per game. Through this point in the campaign, the Knights' 17 goals is the most out of the ten NEC soccer members in overall games played, with the Knights averaging 1.55 goals per game. Arribas currently leads FDU's individual points category with the Madrid, Spain native logged five goals and four assists, good for 14 statistical points.
Coach Roland's Thoughts
"Playing Bryant always has a playoff game type of vibe because they play with tremendous intensity. They defend and apply pressure all over the field, and they're opportunistic in attack along with a legitimate goal scorer in Ben Williams. We will need to be ready for a hard-fought battle."
What's Next
Roland's Knights hit the road for the third-consecutive time on Thursday, October 14, when the Burgundy and Blue take on Central Connecticut State in New Britain, Conn. at 7 p.m. live on NEC Front Row.
The 2021 men's soccer season is presented by Bogota Savings Bank.
