Bulldogs battle Knights to scoreless draw

BULLDOGS HONOR SENIORS, TIE FDU, 0-0

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – The Bryant University men's soccer team controlled a good majority of the game but could not break free from Fairleigh Dickinson, settling for a  0-0 draw on Sunday afternoon at Sutton Field.

Playing their final home game of the season, the Bulldogs (5-8-2, 3-5-1 NEC) honored their six seniors with a spirited effort against the league-leading Knights (8-4-4, 5-0-3 NEC). Bryant outshot FDU 16-13 in the first two halves and held a 10-6 advantage in corner kicks but could not find the back of the net.

Bryant's best chances came in the first 15 minutes of the second half. Less than five minutes into the half, sophomore Connor Norat (Wilmington, Del.) was able to get a shot off in the six-yard box but it was blocked. The ball came right back to him but Jacob Lissek was there to punch the attempt over the net. Just over 11 minutes later, a foul just outside the 18 set the Bulldogs up with an opportunity at goal. Senior Eddie Curry (Massapequa, N.Y.) took the free kick, rifling a shot to the far post that Lissek dove and stopped to keep the game scoreless.

Freshman keeper Chris Knaub (Yarmouth, Maine) did his part on the defensive end to make sure the game remained scoreless throughout the 110 minutes. He made seven saves in the game, with four coming in overtime. It was Anthony Zarella (Marshfield, Mass.), however, that made the biggest save of the game in the 102^nd minute. FDU's Jack McVey found an opening and slipped the ball past Knaub but Zarella was there to knock it off the line and preserve the tie.

Prior to the game, the Bulldogs honored their six-member senior class; Zarella, Curry, Ryan Stone (Wakefield, R.I.), Jimmy Lineberger (Warwick, R.I.), Angelo Caputi (Guayaquil, Ecuador) and Matthew D'Amelio (Lincoln, R.I.). The six helped the Bulldogs capture 14 games over the past four seasons and have laid the foundation for the future of Bryant men's soccer.

The Bulldogs will complete their season next Sunday, Nov. 4 when they travel to New Britain, Conn., to take on Central Connecticut.