Monmouth edges men's soccer, 2-0

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – The Bryant University men's soccer team dropped a 2-0 decision on Sunday to Monmouth University, falling in a tough Northeast Conference battle at Bulldog Stadium.

The Hawks (8-3, 2-1 NEC) held a commanding lead in shot attempts, and were able to use two first-half goals to lead them to a win over the Bulldogs (1-8-1, 0-4), who were limited to three shot attempts over the course of the game.

Monmouth – the preseason pick to take the conference crown for the third straight season – got on the board at 17:40 on Derek Luke's third marker of the season.  Christian Nogueira started the play from outside the eighteen with a sharp pass into the middle of the box, where Luke buried it near the left post to give the visitors an early lead.

Later in the first frame, the Hawks doubled the lead on a goal by Kalle Sotka in the 36^th minute.  Ryan Clark dribbled into the left corner before sending a feed all the way through into the middle of the box.  After a teammate alertly dummied the ball, Sotka came up with the biscuit in front of the net and sent a shot into the twine to push Monmouth's lead to 2-0.

Bryant goaltender George Spanos (Garden City, N.Y.) had a busy day between the posts, as he finished with a season-high seven saves against the Hawks.  Monmouth totaled 19 shots, with nine of them on target.  On the other end, Alex Blackburn turned aside a pair of Bryant shots, with the Bulldogs totaling three attempts on the afternoon.

The Black and Gold nearly had a chance to draw within a goal moments after Sotka's tally, as junior Jimmy Lineberger (Warwick, R.I.) headed a set piece after a Monmouth foul just wide of the net. 

Seven minutes into the second stanza, Sotka nearly had his second goal of the game after coming up with the ball near the penalty box following a scrum, but Spanos made a fantastic save to keep the score at 2-0.  After that, the Hawks shut down defensively, allowing just one Bryant shot the rest of the way while holding a 9-1 shots advantage in the second half.

Bryant attempted a late surge in the 71^st minute, with midfielder Ryan Stone (Wakefield, R.I.) getting a header on net, but Blackburn came up with the save to keep the Bulldogs off the scoreboard.

In total, Monmouth led in corner kicks, 7-2, while Bryant was whistled for more fouls, leading that category by a 19-13 margin.

The Black and Gold will regroup for two more conference home matches next weekend, hosting Central Connecticut State on Friday (Oct. 14) before welcoming Mount St. Mary's on Sunday (Oct. 16), with game times set for 1 p.m. and 3 p.m., respectively.

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