Photo by DSPics.com
Photo by DSPics.com

Five-game winning streak snapped Sunday in Loretto

LORETTO, Pa.  A goal from senior Alex DaCosta (Bristol, R.I.) in the ninth minute gave the Bryant University men's soccer team an early lead, but Saint Francis U would respond to score the next three as the Red Flash snapped the Bulldogs' five-game winning streak in a 3-1 contest Sunday afternoon.

DaCosta's goal, assisted by junior Jared Lee (South Setauket, N.Y.) in his return to the lineup, was his sixth of the season. Bryant stands tied at the top of the NEC with nine points nearing the midway point of the conference schedule.

Game Information
Saint Francis U 3, Bryant 1
Records: Bryant (6-4-0, 3-1-0); Saint Francis U (6-4-0, 3-1-0)
Location: Stokes Soccerplex (Loretto, Pa.) 

Coach Purcell's Comments
"We played and lost to a better team today. We had a hard time adjusting to the speed and rhythm of the game. Our work rate and effort were there but we were just not good enough I'm afraid." 

Scoring Summary
9' – Bryant 1, Saint Francis U 0 – Lee chested down a pass in the box and played it back to DaCosta, who beat the Red Flash defender and drove the ball past the SFU keeper for the early lead.
38' – Bryant 1, Saint Francis U 1 – The Red Flash evened the contest on a goal from Felix Tonne, who received a pass on the run on the outside of the right post and fired it home.
57' – Saint Francis U 2, Bryant 1 – SFU's Renan Fuentes played the ball up the left side and sent it into the box for Lucas Canineu, who slid on the turf and poked the ball into the goal for the go-ahead tally.
79' – Saint Francis U 3, Bryant 1 – A Red Flash corner from the left side was headed into the air before Piet Wesling connected on a second header, redirecting the ball in to double the SFU advantage.

Stats/Notes

  • The Red Flash recorded 22 shots and seven on goal, while the Bulldogs collected 13 shots and five on target.
  • Senior Trevor Lyne (Feeding Hills, Mass.) notched two shots on goal.
  • Senior Olivier Larente (LaSalle, Quebec) recorded four saves.
  • Bryant closes out the weekend in a three-way tie with Merrimack and Saint Francis U atop the NEC table at nine points. The Warriors are reclassifying to Division I and not eligible for the NEC Tournament.

Up Next: St. Francis Brooklyn
The Bulldogs are back in action Friday when Bryant squares off with St. Francis Brooklyn at Brooklyn Bridge Park at 7:30 p.m. 

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