ORONO, Maine - The University of Maine women's soccer team will return to the pitch with a road contest this Sunday, August 29, when they take on the Bulldogs of Bryant University. Kick-off is scheduled for 1:00 pm.
 
GAME INFORMATION
DATE: Sunday, Aug. 29, 2021
TIME: 1:00 p.m.
SITE: Bulldog Soccer Field - Smithfield, Rhode Island
2021 RECORDS: Maine 1-0-1, Bryant 0-1-0
VIDEO: necfrontrow.com
LIVE STATS: bryantbulldogs.com
TWITTER: @MaineWSoccer
 
The Series
Maine is 4-4 against Bryant over the eight all-time match-ups. The Black Bears won the previous contest in 2019, 1-0. That battle also took place in Smithfield.
 
Black Bears Notes and Notables

• The Black and Blue are looking to get back into the playoffs for the 14^th time in the last 19 seasons. Maine is led by 10 seniors and one graduate student.
• Five freshmen and one transfer junior joined the Black Bears this fall - Abby Kraemer, Olivia Bammel, Elle Vermilya, Melina Peloteau, and Myla Schneider. Halle Rogers rounds off the newcomers as a transfer from Xavier.
• Abby Kraemer and Kayla Kraemer both scored their first career goals in Maine's season opening 2-0 victory over Sacred Heart. Kira Kutzinski pitched a shutout in her first action of the 2021 season.
• Tiana Bucknor scored her first career goal in the Black Bears' 1-1 tie at Merrimack College. Kutzinski continues to stand tall in net as she stopped seven shots in her second appearance of the season.

• Senior Julia Mahoney (Saint-Augustin-de-Desmaures, Québec) comes into the season with 14 career points. Seniors Emma Donovan (Québec City, Québec) and Hannah Bamford (Rochester, New Hampshire) both enter the 2021 campaign with six career points.
• Kutziniski (Bünde, Germany), started six games last season, brings her 1.54 GAA from last season back to the pitch in Orono.

A Bit About the Bulldogs

• Bryant is coming off a 3-5-0 season, which saw them miss the NEC tournament.
• Three of the Bulldogs top five scorers - Lexi Kraemer, Madeline Labance, and Vanessa Majer - from 2020 return in 2021.
• Jessica Rinaldi will return in net after posting a 7.26 GAA and 0.714 save percentage over her two appearances last season.

 
About Head Coach Scott Atherley
Now in his 29th season as a head coach in the NCAA, Scott Atherley is entering his 23rd season as the Maine women's soccer program's head coach.
 
Atherley has led the Black Bears 13 of the last 18 America East postseason tournaments.
 
In 1993, Atherley became head coach of the UMaine men's team and took on head coaching duties of the women's team in 1999, coaching both squads that year.
 
Atherley was a four-year letter-winner at UMaine between 1984 and 1987, serving as captain during his final season.
 
-UMaine-