Skip to navigation Skip to content Skip to footer
Photos by David Silverman
Photos by David Silverman
Play Video

Bulldogs claw for a draw against the Red Flash Sunday at home

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – In a game that saw just seven combined shots on goal, the Bryant University men's soccer team took a seventh-minute lead, but a penalty in the box set up an equalizer for Saint Francis U. early in the second half and neither side could gain an advantage over the final 58 minutes in Sunday's 1-1 tie.

A spot in the Northeast Conference playoff picture could have seemed much more attainable for the Bulldogs (2-9-2) with a win, but the Red Flash (9-5-2, 2-1-2) send in a heartbreaking penalty against the hosts for the second time this month.

The match was back-and-forth and very even between the two teams that met in the Northeast Conference tournament in 2013. Bryant attempted 10 shots and Saint Francis U. had eight, as the former had six corners with four coming in the first frame.

The first of those set pieces was taken by senior Curtis Orth (Ancaster, Ont.) in the seventh minute and it was flung on into the box. Junior Jason Norat (Wilmington, Del.) got a quick touch to redirect it to Nathanial Brown (Queens, N.Y.) on the right side, who drove a shot in through the near post from three yards out.

Bryant nearly added a second score in the 16th minute on a Jake Lamar (New Haven, Conn.) header at the end of a free kick into the box, but Marcus Rojas just got a fingertip on the ball. The Bulldogs pestered the Red Flash defensively and limited them to just three first-half shots, as the only strike on goal did not come until the final minute. Saint Francis' leading scorer, Jack Webber, got a header towards goal, but freshman Olivier Larente (Garches, France) made the stop to carry the lead into halftime.

The visitors came out aggressive to start the second half, and after a shot from reigning NEC Defensive Player of the Year Francis de Vries was saved by Larente, SFU won back possession and posed forward. The ball was sent into the box and a foul was whistled on the Bulldogs, awarded the Red Flash a penalty kick. Troye Kiernan stepped up and delivered a conversion to his right, as Larente guessed the wrong way.

Both teams played excellent defense from there and limited the chances to shots from outside the box, as the majority were either blocked or sent wide, with only one save coming in the stanza. Saint Francis U. turned the midfield battle into quality possessions to start the first overtime, and got a great look from the far right wing five minutes into the period. The shot off the foot of de Vries was snatched up by Larente to send things into a second overtime.

The Bulldogs won time of possession in the second extra time and tested Rojas midway through. Norat took a cross into the box off the head and nearly found the back of the net, but Rojas dove to his right and made a game-saving stop. Three minutes later, sophomore Charlie Booth (Concord, Mass.) elevated and sent a soaring header towards goal from 10 yards out that dipped at the last second, but not before hit the top of net. Though Bryant owned all three shot attempts in the frame, it could not convert and drew even for the second time this year.

Norat led everyone with four shots and two on net, while Booth attempted three shots. Orth and Norat both picked up their first assists on the year and Brown netted his second goal. Larente made three stops, as it was the second game in his four starts that his lone goal conceded was on a penalty kick.

Kiernan and de Vries led the Red Flash with two shots each, and Rojas made four saves in the tie, three coming in the first half.

There will be no alterations to the league standings, as sixth-place Central Connecticut drew even with fourth-place Fairleigh Dickinson. The Bulldogs are back in action on Friday when they travel to Sacred Heart for a 3:00 p.m. start, before returning home for Senior Day against St. Francis Brooklyn on Sunday.