Bulldogs, Terriers battle to 1-1 tie Sunday in Smithfield

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – The Bryant University men's soccer team battled St. Francis Brooklyn to a 1-1 tie Sunday afternoon on Senior Day at Bulldog Soccer Field.

The Bulldogs (7-4-3, 3-0-2 Northeast Conference) remain unbeaten in NEC play, but were unable to pick up the much-needed three points in the league standings, while the Terriers (7-5-4, 2-1-2 NEC) earn a strong decision on the road.

The rematch of the 2013 NEC Tournament Championship game did not disappoint one bit as the chess match that unfolded Sunday only exemplified the competitive balance in the tightly contested NEC standings.

After a scoreless first half, the Black and Gold were the beneficiaries of a St. Francis miscue when sophomore defender Pedro-Lucas Ferreira (East Boston, Mass.) crossed a beautiful ball into the box that was headed up and into the back of the Terrier goal by a St. Francis defender, putting Bryant up, 1-0, in the 56th minute.

However, the visitors responded in the 77th minute, converting on a free kick from just outside the top right corner of the box, when Vincent Bezecourt lofted a cross directly to the head of a streaking Paul Galimi to knot the score, 1-1.

In the overtime period, the Bulldogs had the three best scoring opportunities when junior Marco Addonizio (Lynnfield, Mass.) sent a low cross into the box, just missing the feet of Brett Larocque (Ottawa, Ont.) and Zachary Bleau-Prevost (Boucherville, Quebec), and in the second OT period when both Larocque and Bleau-Prevost saw their shots pushed aside by Terrier keeper Jack Binks.

Binks made a game-high six saves, while Bryant GK Chris Knaub (Yarmouth, Maine) made four stops in his 12th start of the year.

Looking ahead, the Bulldogs will wrap up regular season play with matches at Fairleigh Dickinson (Nov. 2) and at Central Connecticut on Nov. 9.