Bulldogs drop 4-2 match against CCSU

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – The Bryant University men's soccer team was able to find the back of the net twice in the second half, but could not overcome two early goals, falling, 4-2, against Central Connecticut State on Friday afternoon at the Bryant Track and Turf Complex.

The Bulldogs (1-9-1, 0-5 NEC) were forced to dig out of a 2-0 hole after the first half, and came out of the locker room with some fire, pressing early on but wound up falling further behind on a CCSU goal off a direct kick nearly 35 yards out. 

Junior Angelo Caputi (Guayaquil, Ecuador) netted his first marker of the season in the 69th minute on a perfectly placed header into the upper right corner of the net, finishing an odd-man rush down the field on a play set up by Ryan Kalan (East Norwich, N.Y.).  The freshman hustled to get to a loose ball on the goal line and sent a cross into the box, where a wide-open Caputi sent it into the twine to make it 3-1.

After CCSU answered with their fourth goal six minutes later by Stephen Walmsley, Bryant sophomore Nicholas Alberti (Dorchester, Mass.) made it a two-goal game with a gorgeous blast from nearly 25 yards out on the right side of the field, sending the ball into the upper left corner on an untouchable shot, bringing the Bulldogs within two at 86:09, but that would be the closest Bryant would come in the waning moments of regulation.

In the first half, the Blue Devils (7-6, 4-1 NEC) used a pair of corner kicks to take an early lead, as Jessie Menzies sent a service into the box in the sixth minute of regulation.  Waiting in front of the net was Thomas Obasi, who headed the ball into the twine for his second marker of the year, giving the visitors a quick 1-0 lead.

Nearly 10 minutes later, Central doubled the lead on a nearly identical scoring play, as Menzies again sent a corner into the box.  This time, though, it was Aaron Durr who got a head on it, sending the ball into the back of the net for a Blue Devils goal, extending the lead to 2-0.

But Bryant fought back, as senior Nicholas Parisi (Holbrook, N.Y.) ripped off a shot in the 13^th minute that CCSu goalkeeper Anthony Occhialini denied, setting up a corner kick for the Bulldogs.  After the service, sophomore Joseph DiMauro (Middletown, Conn.) nearly scored on a deflection off his leg, but the shot went just wide.

Later in the first frame, freshman Connor Norat (Wilmington, Del.) had a chance on another Bryant corner, but his header shot was grabbed by a leaping Occhialini to keep the two-goal cushion intact.  Occhialini finished the contest with five saves, and was relieved in the 77^th minute by James Perkins (three saves).

In all, CCSU held a 29-13 lead in shot attempts, with one drilling the post on an odd-man rush in the 60^th minute.  The Blue Devils also led in corners, 6-5, while being whistled twice more than the Bulldogs, leading fouls by a 12-10 margin.

Sophomore George Spanos (Garden City, N.Y.) earned the start in net, finishing the game with three saves through 55:27 of action.  Senior Chris Bronski (Trumbull, Conn.) entered the game in a relief role in the 56^th minute, and turned aside one shot in his first appearance of the season.

The Bulldogs will look for revenge against Mount St. Mary's on Sunday, hosting the Mountaineers for an afternoon affair slated to begin at 1 p.m. at Bulldog Stadium.

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