BRYANT MEN’S SOCCER TOPS LONG ISLAND, 2-1, IN OVERTIME ON GUERY GOLDEN GOAL

Oct. 10, 2010

BRYANT MEN'S SOCCER TOPS LONG ISLAND, 2-1, IN OVERTIME ON GUERY GOLDEN GOAL

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Senior Norbert Guery (Andover, Mass.) scored four minutes into overtime to give the Bryant University men's soccer team a 2-1 victory over Long Island Sunday afternoon at Bulldog Stadium.

Sophomore Ryan Stone (Wakefield, R.I.) gave the Bulldogs the lead just before halftime, but Jakeem Johnson equalized for the Blackbirds with just five minutes to go in regulation, setting the stage for Guery's heroics.

The win improves Bryant's overall record to 3-6-1 (1-2-1 NEC), while Long Island falls to 4-7 on the season (1-2 NEC).

The Bulldogs scored the game-winner in the 94th minute through Guery. Edward Barr (Fairfax, Va.) sent in a lobbed through pass over the defense where Guery, open near the penalty spot, settled the ball before blasting it past goalkeeper Adam Janssen to give the Bulldogs a 2-1 victory. The goal was Guery's second of the year.

Bryant had initially taken the lead with just a minute left in the first half. A corner by Eddie Curry (Massapequa, N.Y.) found Stone in front of Janssen on the goal line and the sophomore headed into the open net for his first goal of the season.

Long Island equalized with five minutes left in regulation when forward Jakeem Johnson got the ball in the box and sent it past Bulldog keeper Victor Tutino (Deer park, N.Y.) from close range to send the game into overtime.

Long Island had a couple of chances early, but Tutino came up big to keep the Blackbirds off the score line.

Elliot Kane had the first chance of the match in the second minute, driving a shot from the top of the box to the near post but denied by Tutino.

Tutino made another key save in the eighth minute, denying a shot from Juan Lanza. Jakeem Johnson got the ball at the top of the box and found an onrushing Lanza in space. Lanza drove a low shot to the far post, but Tutino denied it with a diving save.

After the early pressure from Long Island, Bryant took control of the match.  In the tenth minute, it was the Bulldogs with a chance as Nicholas Parisi (Holbrook, N.Y.) volleyed a shot on frame from the top of the box. His effort was saved by a well positioned Janssen.

Parisi continued the pressure a couple minutes later with a low driven shot targeted for the lower corner of the net.  Janssen could only tip the shot wide of the post with a diving save.

Erik Lekstrom (Worcester, Mass.) forced Janssen to make another save in the 18th minute. Lekstrom got the ball on the left side of the box and cut inside before sending a shot towards the far post. His effort seemed destined for the back of the net, but Janssen managed to get a hand to it to keep it out.

Stone nearly struck for the Bulldogs in the 24th minute after Janssen failed to get to a long free kick from Lekstrom. The ball fell to Stone who slid in to try to redirect the ball into the empty net, but his shot rolled wide of the far post.

The Bulldogs had a good chance to open the scoring just two minutes before the half when Tom Nelan (East Haddam, Conn.) found Ben Lawerence (Amherst, N.H.) behind the defense. From a tight angle, Lawerence beat Janssen, but saw his shot roll wide of the far post.

After taking a 1-0 lead into halftime, the Bulldogs had a couple of chances to double their lead in the second half with Bryant's best chance coming in the 79^th minute when Terence Morrissey (Hingham, Mass.) sent Barr behind the defense with a perfectly weighted through ball.  Morrissey ran in on goal, but under pressure from behind, sent his shot high of the net.

Tutino recorded four save sin net for the Bulldogs while Janssen registered three stops for the Blackbirds.

The Bulldogs next play Quinnipiac at home on Friday, October 15^th at 3:00 p.m.