M. Soccer welcomes Army for Tues. match

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Returning home for the first time in 18 days, the Bryant University men's soccer team welcomes Army to Bulldog Stadium on Tuesday, Sept. 20 in its only non-league home match of the season.  Game time is set for 4 p.m.

After suffering a 3-2 setback against George Washington University during their only game last week, the Bulldogs (0-3-1) will look to remain unbeaten against the Black Knights (2-5-0) in the two programs' series history.  Spanning back to the 2009 season, Bryant has won both matchups previously played between the squads, with the most recent victory coming on Sept. 15, 2010, at Clinton Field in West Point, N.Y.

In that game, current junior Anthony Caputi (Guayaquil, Ecuador) broke a scoreless tie in the 105^th minute of the game, heading home an unassisted game-winner off a scramble in front of the net for the double-overtime victory.  Bryant's other win in the series came much easier, when the Bulldogs coasted to a 3-0 win at home on Sept. 11, 2009. 

Bryant's most recent contest on the road against GW was a stinger, as both the Bulldogs and Colonials would combine for five goals over the last 25 minutes of regulation, but it was the home team who emerged victorious with a goal in the 89^th minute.  With time ticking away, GW midfielder Bailey Hinners played the ball down the left flank and into the box, where Seth Rudolph chipped the ball in for the winning goal.  Connor Norat (Wilmington, Del.) netted his first collegiate tally at 64:46, off a header on a corner kick taken by classmate Shane Murphy (Kennett Square, Pa.) to give the Bulldogs a 1-0 lead, but GW scored two quick markers to go up 2-1.  With less than 10 minutes remaining, senior captain Nicholas Parisi (Holbrook, N.Y.) converted on a penalty kick for his second goal of the season, tying the game at 2-2, before Rudolph's late strike.

Army has dropped four consecutive games entering tomorrow's match, and have been outscored by a 6-1 margin during that span.  Junior Josh Koeppe (1g, 1a, 3p) leads the Army offense, which has scored just three goals over its last six matches after tallying four markers in its season-opener against Marist.  Freshmen Elliott McGilbra and Sean Mogan are tied with Koeppe for the team led in scoring with three points each.  The Black Knights' defense is anchored by freshman goalkeeper John Marinelli, who has posted a 1.69 goals-against average in seven starts, and has recorded two shutouts through seven games.

After tomorrow's afternoon affair, the Bulldogs will hit the road for another three-game stint away from Smithfield, starting with an early Sunday morning contest with MAAC foe Manhattan College.  Game time is set for 10 a.m.

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