Stewart’s eight saves not enough in 1-0 loss to Brown on Friday night
PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Despite eight saves from junior keeper Nick Stewart (South Windsor, Conn.) the Bryant University men's soccer team attempted just one shot on goal and fell to Brown, 1-0, on Friday night in the Capital City.
The Bears (1-0) set the pace through the first 15 minutes, working a pair of corners and rifling off multiple shots, as Stewart held firm making a couple of key saves.
The Bears' offense worked the wings early on, with multiple crosses being sent into the box. The Bulldogs' (0-2) defense was strong in dealing with all of the chances, particular the center backs of sophomore Charlie Booth (Concord, Mass.) and senior Jake Lamar (New Haven, Conn.).
Will Cross took one of the three Bear crosses in the first half and headed it towards Stewart, but the 6-4 keeper was able to get a fingertip on the ball and redirect it just wide of the far post.
Brown's pressure persisted throughout the entire half, and a hand ball was whistled against Bryant with 30 seconds to play. The free kick was taken by Eric Sugarman, but his laser was aimed directly at Stewart, who punched it out of the danger zone.
The Bulldogs upped their intensity in the early stages of the second half with a couple of quality opportunities. Freshman George Gill (Cork Munster, Ireland) took a nice cross off the head in the 60th minute, but sent it just a few feet above the cross bar.
The near miss would haunt the Black and Gold, as Brown turned the change of possession into a chance just two minutes later. Nico Lozado drove a beautiful ball into the box in the 62nd minute from the right wing. The ball got through the defenders and found Nate Pomeroy all alone, who easily sent it into the far side corner of the net.
The Bears continued to press forward to try and add an insurance goal with excellent scoring chances over the next eight minutes. A Joseph Lee shot in the 68th minute from dead center outside the box sailed wide, and a Quinn English left-footed strike from the left side of the box was saved by Stewart.
With the clock ticking and the pressure rising, the Bulldogs turned to their bench for a final push in the closing minute. Bryant was able to force a handball just outside of the box with under a minute to go.
Senior Chris McCormick (Westfield, Mass.) lined up for the free kick, looking to produce a similar result as his free kick score against New Hampshire in the season opener. The shot was blocked and steered out of bounds, but the referees opted not to stop the clock in the final seconds, as time expired.
The eight saves for Stewart marks a new career high. Junior Matt Brouilliette (Shelton, Conn.) attempted one of just five Bryant shots, and it was the only shot on goal.
Pomeroy led all performers with four shots, two on target, while Louis Zingas attempted a pair of shots with one being on frame.
Bryant will try to regroup quickly, as it hosts rival Providence College on Sunday at 3:00 p.m.