BRYANT MEN’S SOCCER BLANKS NEC FOE QUINNIPIAC, 2-0

Oct. 15, 2010

BRYANT MEN'S SOCCER BLANKS NEC FOE QUINNIPIAC, 2-0

Guery goal gives Bulldogs early lead
Stone tally gives Bryant 2-0 advantage

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Senior Norbert Guery (Andover, Mass.) and sophomore Ryan Stone (Wakefield, R.I.) each netted their second goal in as many games, leading the Bryant University men's soccer team past Quinnipiac, 2-0, Friday afternoon at a rain-soaked Bulldog Stadium.

The Bulldogs improve to 4-6-1 overall and 2-2-1 in the Northeast Conference after a physical win that saw four cards and 29 fouls issued. The Bobcats drop to 1-8-1 on the season and 1-3 in the NEC.

Quinnipiac enjoyed the first quality scoring opportunity of the game when forward Philip Suprise ripped a shot from 10-feet out but just hit the inside of the left post and deflected out of bounds.

Guery put the Bulldogs on the board in the 16th minute after Bobcat keeper George Ellis collected a slow-rolling ball in front of the net. The sophomore tried to immediately give the ball to his closest teammate but Guery intercepted the pass and knocked in a shot past a defenseless Ellis for his team-leading third goal of the season.    

The visitors stormed back a few minutes later when Matthew Rothbart launched a one-timer from inside the Bulldog box but senior keeper Victor Tutino (Deer Park, N.Y.) made a sliding save to tip away the shot.     

The Bulldogs added on to their lead in the 34th minute with Stone's second tally of the fall campaign. A free kick from senior Jordan Martin (Bristol, Conn.) was sent into the box and Stone wrestled through a slew of Bobcats to get a head on the ball and send it past the reach of Ellis for the 2-0 advantage.

Both teams had to play through sloppy weather conditions after intermission as the rain and wind picked up for the remainder of the contest.

Tutino picked up for the Bulldogs as well, posting four saves in the second half for a total of seven stops in the game. The senior keeper prevented a number of hard Quinnipiac shots in the waning minutes of regulation, including a diving one-handed save in the 89th minute to deflect a shot by Suprise and preserve the shutout.        

The Black and Gold return to conference play on Sunday, Oct. 17 when they visit Central Connecticut at 3:00 p.m.