Blue Devils edge Bulldogs, 3-2, on senior day Sunday afternoon

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – The Bryant University men's soccer team was defeated, 3-2, by Central Connecticut on senior day, Sunday afternoon.

The Blue Devils (5-9-2, 2-4 NEC) were first on the board in the 28th minute, following a Bryant penalty in the box. Senior Zach Zurita took the penalty kick for the Blue Devils, finishing the ball right-center past senior goal keeper Chris Knaub (Yarmouth, Maine).

The Bulldogs (3-7-6, 1-2-4 NEC) found the equalizer late in the first half, when senior captain Jake Lamar (New Haven, Conn.) scored on a corner kick from the right side, bending it, untouched, into the far left of the net.

Just over a minute into the second period, Louis Beddouri received the ball from Rodrigo Salvador and dribbled left side, towards the end line. Beddouri shot and scored just inside the far post, off the hand of Knaub to put the Blue Devils back up one.

Just two minutes later, Central advanced their lead to two, when Freddy Metellus dribbled end line on the right side, crossing the ball into the six-yard box, where Alexander Hastings was there to make the sliding finish for the Blue Devils' score.

The Black and Gold closed the gap to one, after senior Matt Guerriero (Pickering, Ont.) crossed the ball into the box from 30-yards out, finding classmate Brett Larocque (Ottawa, Ont.) on the far side, who finished with a header into the net.

The Bulldogs tallied 15 shots, placing seven on goal, while the visitors logged 21 attempts, targeting eight on frame.

Knaub recorded four saves for the Black and Gold, while Blue Devils' keeper Nick Velleca managed six.

Neither team will advance into the Northeast Conference Tournament, leaving the Bulldogs to get back to work in the offseason in preparation for the 2016 season.