11th-ranked Bears down Bulldogs, 3-0

KINGSTON, R.I. – The Bryant University men's soccer team fell 3-0 in the Ocean State Soccer Classic consolation to No. 11 Brown University on Monday, Sept. 5, at the URI Soccer Complex.  

Despite being outshot 14-7, the Bulldogs (0-2) held their own against one of the top teams in the country, and nearly tied the game in the first half, but the Bears (1-1) were able to limit Bryant to just two shots on goal.

Brown took an early lead in the 13th minute after Sean Rosa (Montreal, Quebec) poked in a long service from the right side of the box in front of the post to make it 1-0.  Taylor Gorman (Freeport, Maine) set up the play from the far side in the attacking third, sending it through to an open Rosa, who redirected it home.  

In the 23^rd minute, Bryant dodged a bullet after Thomas McNamara (West Nyack, N.Y.) took a shot that Spanos got a piece of before being taken down.  The rebound was loose in front of an open net, but went unnoticed by McNamara, and the Bulldogs defense cleared it out of harm's way.

Despite being outshot 10-4 in the first half, the Bulldogs' offense began to come alive after the 30^th minute, and nearly got on the board off a cross from Ryan Stone (Wakefield, R.I.) after a throw-in, but the opportunity sailed over the post. 

The Bears were kept at bay the remainder of the first half until the last minute of the frame, when Rob Medairos (Stafford, Va.) found an open look inside the eighteen, but sophomore George Spanos (Garden City, N.Y.) was up to the task, making the kick save to keep the Bulldogs within a goal.  Spanos finished the game with three saves, while Brown's Alex Carr (Hamilton, New Zealand) recorded a pair of saves.

Brown came off firing after the break, reeling off a pair of second-half goals to extend its lead.  In the 56^th minute, T.J. Popolizio (Rexford, N.Y.) doubled the Bears' lead, connecting on a pass through the box from Dylan Remick (Inverness, Ill.).  Later in the half, McNamara took a pass from Jose Salama (Madrid, Spain) in the Bryant midfield and maneuvered through the defense to set up the marker.

Bryant will look to rebound next weekend when it travels to Lawrenceville, N.J., for a non-conference tilt against Rider University on Sunday, Sept. 11.  Game time is set for 3 p.m.

NOTES AND NOTABLES

Providence defeated host URI, 1-0, in the Ocean State Soccer Classic championship game.  The Friars scored the golden goal minutes into overtime to take their second tournament title in as many seasons ... Bryant saw two of its players named to the all-tournament team in junior captain Matthew D'Amelio (Lincoln, R.I.) and freshman midfielder Connor Norat (Wilmington, Del.).  Norat totaled three shots, and two on goal, over both games, while D'Amelio anchored the defense.

For continuing coverage of Bryant men's soccer, check back at www.bryantbulldogs.com, and follow the Bulldogs on Twitter @BryantAthletics.