Bryant falls to Mountaineers, 3-1

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Sophomore Nicholas Alberti (Dorchester, Mass.) scored a late goal for the second time in as many games, but the Bryant University men's soccer team could not overcome a three-goal deficit, falling, 3-1, against Mount St. Mary's University on Sunday at Bulldog Stadium.

The Mountaineers move back to .500 on the season at 6-6-1, with a 3-3 Northeast Conference mark, while the Bulldogs drop to 1-10-1 and 0-6 in conference play.

The Mount did not have to wait long to get on the board, as Alex Ockford booted in a corner kick served by Kyle Patrick in the fourth minute of regulation.  Jimmy Ockford initially headed the cross toward the net before Alex redirected it in for the 1-0 lead.

Bryant did not take long to regroup, as the Black and Gold charged down the field after play resumed.  Freshman Lucas Guerriero (Pickering, Ontario) had a chance to draw even after taking a touch-pass from senior Nicholas Parisi (Holbrook, N.Y.) inside the box, but his point-blank shot was saved by MSM goaltender Peter Steve.

Moments later, the Bulldogs continued their offensive charge with another pair of chances.  Parisi had a chance with a free kick to the left of the goal, but Steve made a leaping save to quell that chance.  After that, Parisi served a corner kick into the box to Connor Norat (Wilmington, Del.), but the header attempt went wide.

In the 29^th minute, the Mount doubled up the score by virtue of Zoncher Dennis' conference-leading 10^th goal of the season.  The rookie took a long pass from Matthew Steele and dribbled downfield.  After making a move around a defender, Dennis lofted a floater into the upright corner that beat a retreating Chris Bronski (Trumbull, Conn.), who had moved up from his line in an attempt to break up the play.

After halftime, Bryant continued to press straight out of the gate, as Norat had another chance on a long throw-in from junior Ryan Stone (Wakefield, R.I.), but Steve came up with the save.  Moments later, junior Angelo Caputi (Guayaquil, Ecuador) had an opportunity off a scrum inside the box after a throw-in, but he was also turned aside by Steve.

The Mountaineers added to their lead with a marker by Jimmy Ockford in the 69^th minute.  Chris Wheeler sent a cross toward the right post, where Ockford was waiting to head it into the back of the net.

The Black and Gold attempted to a mount a late rally, and finally broke through in the 90^th minute on Alberti's goal.  Classmate Joseph DiMauro (Middletown, Conn.) sent a pass down the goal line and into the penalty box.  After a deflection, Alberti rifled the ball into a wide-open net to break up the shutout bid.  That would be the closest that Bryant would come, with the final whistle coming about 40 seconds later.

The Mountaineers held a slim lead in shot attempts (18-16), while both teams combined for 31 fouls.  Bryant earned one more corner than MSM, holding a 4-3 lead in that category. 

Bronski, who was making his first start of the season, finished the day with four saves and was aided by one team save, while Steve finished with six.

Bryant will now hit the road for three games before concluding the season at home on Nov. 6 against Sacred Heart.  Next up will be a trip to Pennsylvania, where the Bulldogs will face Robert Morris next Friday (Oct. 21) before finishing the weekend at Saint Francis (PA) on Oct. 23. 

For continuing coverage of Bryant University men's soccer, check back at www.bryantbulldogs.com, and be sure to follow the Bulldogs on Twitter @BryantAthletics.