Bulldogs downed by Monmouth in 2OT

MONMOUTH TOPS BULLDOGS, 3-2, IN DOUBLE OVERTIME SUNDAY ON ROAD

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Despite leading Monmouth for much of the second half, the Bryant University men's soccer team was forced into its third overtime outing of the season in the 88th minute Sunday, and for the second time in 2012 came up just short, as Joseph Schmid sealed the victory for the host Hawks, 3-2, in double overtime in West Long Branch, N.J.

Schmid's game-clinching score came in the 102nd minute in unassisted fashion from 25 yards out, beating Bryant (3-5-1, 3-1-0 Northeast Conference) goalie George Spanos (Garden City, N.Y.) to vault the Hawks (6-3-2, 1-1-1) to the 3-2 victory.

The tally came in the second overtime frame – after the teams combined for just a single shot in the first extra session – and came more than 14 minutes after Tomas Penfold knotted the score at 2-2 with just 2:57 left in regulation.

It was the Bulldogs who held the momentum through most of the second half after a scoreless opening frame, though, as the visitors got on the board first in the 53rd minute when Connor Norat (Wilmington, Del.) dished the ball to rookie Matt Guerriero (Pickering, Ont.) for a shot that found space under goalie Alex Blackburn's hands.

The visitor's 1-0 edge would not last long, as Andres Penfold tied the score at 1-1 at the 64:13 mark, beating Spanos one-on-one off a ball played into the box by Ryan Clark.

The Black and Gold answered with a quick response, regaining a one-goal advantage less than two minutes later, when Kyle Jester (San Diego, Calif.) headed home a serve from Shane Murphy (Kennett Square, Pa.) for a 2-1 edge.

It was a lead the Bulldogs nearly held onto through the final whistle, but Monmouth's final corner kick of the afternoon put the ball on the head of Tomas Penfold at the perfect moment, as he found open real estate in the 88th minute to knot the game at 2-2 and force extra time.

In overtime, the sides would battle for more than 11 minutes before Schmid fired the game winner 101:46 after the opening whistle, giving the home side the 3-2 final margin.

The Hawks outshot the Bulldogs, 11-7, with both teams putting five shots on goal. Spanos made two saves for the visitors to Blackburn's three stops, with Monmouth taking the only two shots of overtime. Schmid registered a game-high four shots for the Hawks, while Guerriero and Brett Larocque (Ottawa, Ont.) each took two shots to pace the Bulldogs.

Bryant returns home for its next two games and will host Northeast Conference foes LIU Brooklyn on Friday, Oct. 12 and Quinnipiac on Sunday, Oct. 14. Both games are slated to start at 3:00 p.m.