Bulldogs able to create chances, no breakthroughs in defeat at Providence

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – The Bryant University men's soccer team showed as much attacking prowess as they had shown all season, but they were not able to capitalize as Providence defeated the Bulldogs 3-0 on Monday night at Anderson Stadium.

Game Information

Providence 3, Bryant 0

Records: Providence 2-2, Bryant 0-4

Location: Anderson Stadium

Coach Purcell's Comments

"PC is as good as we're going to play. I know we lost 3-0 but we did well. This was probably our best performance. I know this is going to sound strange, but I thought our energy was fantastic, I thought our movement off the ball was fantastic. I'm disappointed obviously, but there's a lot of positive stuff to take from this."

Key Moment

• In the 36^th minute, senior Drew Rushton (Middlebury, Conn.) was called for tripping up Friars forward Mac Steeves just inside the 18-yard box, giving Providence a penalty. Steeves then fired the shot low into the left corner to give the Friars their opening goal.  

Scoring Summary 

• 36^th minute – Providence 1, Bryant 0 – After a few minutes of good offensive possessing from the Friars, they were able to create the penalty chance after Steeves was tripped up in the box and the chance was converted for his first goal of the season.
• 62^nd minute – Providence 2, Bryant 0 – The Friars were able to convert on a counter attack, as the ball was played through to Steeves on the right side of the box towards the end line. He played the ball back to an open Braden Kline, who beat the diving Nick Stewart (South Windsor, Conn.).
• 82^nd minute – Providence 3, Bryant 0 – On a long ball towards the corner of the box, Stewart came out to play the ball, but Steeves tipped it past him and finished on the open net.

Stats/Notes 

• The Bulldogs finished the night with nine shots and five of them on net, both of which are highs through the first four games of the season.
• Stewart finished with a season-high eight saves on the night, with seven of them coming in the first half.
• Stewart's seven saves were the most he's made in the first half of a game in his career. They are tied for the most in any half with the seven he made in the second half against UMass Lowell last season.
• Sophomore Olivier Larente (Garches, France) made his first appearance of 2017, playing the final five minutes of the second half.
• Junior Nathaniel Brown (Queens, N.Y.) recorded three shots on the night, with two of them on frame. Those were his first shots of the season.
• Senior Alexander Wrona (Burlington, Conn.) double his season shots on goal total with two on the night, giving him four on the season.

Up Next

The Bulldogs play yet another in-state rival on Thursday, when they travel to Kingston, R.I., to take on Rhode Island at 7:00 p.m.