October 3, 2008
Box Score
LONG ISLAND SPOILS BULLDOG SENIOR DAY WITH 2-0 VICTORY
SMITHFIELD, RI- Playing in their lone contest of the year, the
Bryant University men's soccer lost a hard fought match to Long
Island University, 2-0, Friday afternoon at Bulldog Stadium. Prior
to the game, Bryant honored its two seniors, Matt Brown
(South Easton, Mass.) and Manny Rodriguez (North
Branford, Conn.), for their hard-work and dedication to
the program over the last four years. The Blackbirds (5-4-0), who
had come into play owning a 4-game win streak, were able to extend
their streak to five games thanks to two second half goals.
The Bulldogs (1-10-1) controlled the pace of play for the entire
first half, but could only manage one shot. They had an early
scoring chance when Norbert Guery (Andover, Mass.)
swung a free kick into the box that found the head of Rodriguez but
just went wide of the post. Later in the first half, the Blackbirds
had a scoring chance of their own off a free kick, as Craig
Stant chipped a ball into the box that Jukka Lehto was able to
flick towards the net off his head but it just trickled wide. The
two teams would go into the half in a scoreless tie.
Bryant continued to push for a goal in the second half, as a
throw in from Rodriguez deflected directly to freshman
Nicholas Parisi (Holbrook, N.Y.) about 12 yards
out, but the shot came off the side of his foot and went right into
the hands of Blackbird keeper Adam Janssen.
The Bulldogs dodged a bullet early in the half when Stant hit
another great corner kick that deflected out to Frank Alesci who
hit a hard volleyed shot but it went right at goalkeeper
Neil Black (Roslyn Heights, N.Y.) for his only
save of the game.
Long Island broke through in the 66th minute on a
bouncing ball that went towards Rommel Forde who was able to play a
beautifully led header to Jukka Lehto. Lehto laid himself out for a
diving header that just beat Black to his left side and went into
the net to give the Blackbirds the 1-0 lead. Long Island would
strike again just five minutes later as a defensive breakdown
allowed freshman forward Steve Jakubowski to dribble down the
sideline and into the box before taking a shot that deflected off a
Bulldog defender and went just past Black's fingertips into the
side netting.
Matt Brown would make an effort to get the Bulldogs on the board
in the 80th minute of play taking the ball down the
right sideline and firing a shot that hit the outside of the post.
That would be it for the Bulldogs as Long Island would go on to the
2-0 victory.
The Bulldogs will be back on the road for their remaining
schedule, traveling to Fordham University Sunday to take on the
Rams (3:30 pm).
Men's Soccer
@ Smithfield, RI
Long Island 2, Bryant 0
Goals:
BRY - none
LIU - Lehto (66th), Jakubowski (71st)
Shots - Bryant 7, LIU 9 Saves - Bryant 1, LIU 1
Halftime - Tied 0-0
