Bulldogs battle Sacred Heart to 1-1 tie Saturday

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Despite holding a lead for the first 87 minutes of play, the Bryant University men's soccer team battled Sacred Heart to a 1-1 draw Saturday afternoon in Fairfield, Conn.

The Bulldogs (6-4-2, 2-0-1 Northeast Conference), who are unbeaten since Sept. 14, were unable to hold on for the victory as the Pioneers (0-11-2, 0-2-1 NEC) pick up their first point of the NEC season.

After 38 minutes of scoreless play it was Bryant who struck first in the 39th minute when senior midfielder Tony Flaim (Fort Lee, N.J.) fired a shot toward the Sacred Heart net only to be deflected and scooped up and fired home by Ryan Rose (Acton, Mass.), granting the Bulldogs the 1-0 lead heading into halftime.

The second half played out similarly to the first portion of the first with both teams unable to finish their chances, but it was Mahmoud Kafel that rebounded his own shot inside the box and put home his third marker of the season to even the score, 1-1, in the 88th minute to for overtime.

In the Black and Gold's fifth overtime match of the season (1-2-2), they certainly had their chances with Connor Norat (Wilmington, Del.) and Chris McCormick (Westfield, Mass.) putting shots on goal. However it was not enough as Tucker Hackett made seven stops for the Pioneers, while Bryant GK Chris Knaub (Yarmouth, Maine) made nine saves, while allowing just his first goal of league play.

Looking ahead, the Bulldogs will return to Smithfield for their final two home games of the regular season when they host LIU Brooklyn on Friday, before a rematch of the 2013 NEC Title Game on Sunday (Oct. 26) vs. St. Francis Brooklyn.

For all the latest news on the Bryant University men's soccer team, visit BryantBulldogs.com.