MEN’S SOCCER NIPPED 1-0 BY HARTFORD IN SEASON OPENER
September 1, 2009
MEN'S SOCCER NIPPED 1-0 BY HARTFORD IN SEASON OPENER
SMITHFIELD, RI -- The Bryant University men's soccer team put up a good fight, but lost its season opener, 1-0, to the University of Hartford Tuesday afternoon in Bulldog Stadium.
The Bulldogs, led by 14th-year head coach Seamus Purcell, were tied with the Hawks into the 83rd minute of play before seniors Carlos Villa and Ivan Guarin hooked up for a late game-winning goal. Villa fed a nice ball through the defense which Guarin was able to poke into the left side of the net past freshman goalkeeper Matt Miscione (Ashburn, Va.).
Bryant (0-1) looked crisp as the Bulldogs recorded seven shots and had multiple promising attempts in the opener. The first chance came in the 29th minute off an Erik Lekstrom (Worcester, Mass.) free kick which sailed just above his teammates' heads and glanced past the right post. In the 61st minute of play, the Bulldogs sent a promising cross into the box that was also left untouched.
Another highlight for the home side was the strong play of rookie Miscione between the pipes. Miscione played tough in goal making six saves, two of which came off well-struck Hartford free kicks in the middle of the second half.
The Bryant University men's soccer team returns to action later this week when it travels to play Boston College on Friday, Sept. 4 at 4 p.m. The Bulldogs return home for the first half of a home soccer doubleheader on Sunday, Sept. 6, when the men host Stony Brook at 1:00 p.m. The women will follow hosting Hartford at 3:30 p.m.