Bulldogs wash away Colonials, 3-0, in Friday’s start to busy weekend in Smithfield

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Despite pouring rain for the entirety of the match and slippery conditions, the Bryant University men's soccer team played its best game offensively and scored a season high three goals in Friday's Northeast Conference shutout against Robert Morris.

The Bulldogs (2-9-1, 1-1-1) break the tie with the Colonials (3-8-1, 0-3-1) in the league standings and the win could potentially put them into a playoff position by days end, with fourth place Fairleigh Dickinson and fifth place Central Connecticut each playing tonight. Bryant also remains perfect against Robert Morris with a 6-0-3 record.

The Colonials ripped off the first shot of the game 1:30 in from the left side of the box that just went wide, but the Bulldogs took control from there and looked as good as they had all year in torrential downpour. Bryant fired off a season high 20 shots with 13 on target, as the first on frame came on a strike from the right wing off the boot of freshman George Gill (Cork, Munster Ireland). Winter Fondi made the save but could not control the ball due to the wet conditions, and senior Jake Lamar (New Haven, Conn.) was there for the rebound, but his shot sailed wide right.

Lamar nearly gave Bryant its first score again on a header in the 26th minute, but the Robert Morris backline prevented the ball from finding the back of the net and momentarily knocked it out of the box. Bryant continued to press, got the ball in the zone just 30 seconds later to force a Colonial hand ball, giving the hosts their first penalty kick of the season. Gill lined up for the opportunity, but his low strike to the right post was saved by a diving Fondi.

The Bulldogs kept pressing forward and making great passes and runs, and were rewarded for their efforts in the 40th minute. A through ball down the left side from freshman Victor Rey (Lincoln, R.I.) got over the defense and to David Abunaw (West Hartford, Conn.) running on the wing. Abunaw got just into the box, sent a wonderful cross to the right and found senior Pedro-Lucas Ferreiro (East Boston, Mass.) in the box for a leaping shot into the goal.

Just three minutes later, Rey lined up for a free kick from the left wing about 20 yards out. He sent a strong winding strike into the box that deflected off the side of a Colonial defender and ricocheted into the net.

Bryant nearly added to its lead 10 minutes into the second half on a nice run down the middle of the pitch by senior Curtis Orth (Ancaster, Ont.). He made two moves to get around defenders and sent a strike to the near post that was narrowly punched away by Fondi to force a corner. The set piece was cleared short by the Colonials, sophomore Derek Blanchette (Hope, R.I.) headed it back into the box and the ball caught the heel of a Robert Morris defender and rolled into the net to make it 3-0.

Though he only made two saves in the match, freshman Olivier Larente (Garches, France) stepped up for both, as the Colonials best opportunity of the second frame came in the 59th minute. Lucas Puntillo sent a powerful strike from the left side about 15 yards out, but Larente dove to his right and made the stop to hold the clean sheet, along with the play of the backline. Freshman James Cochrane (Sandy Hook, Conn.) played all 90 minutes, junior John Conry (Bolton, Mass.) played 83 and sophomore Charlie Booth (Concord, Mass.) played 78.

Of the 23 Bulldogs that played, 12 attempted shots, led by Orth with four and two on net. Gill fired off three with two on goal, and Ferreira attempted two including his first goal of the year. Larente and the defense helped the Bulldogs to their first shutout of the season.

Puntillo paced the Colonials with four shots and the only two on target, while Keane McIvor had two shots and Bayley Winkel had one. Fondi played well in the losing effort with 10 saves, as he was hindered by an own goal and the other was a deflection on the Rey free kick.

The Bulldogs will try to carry the momentum into an important home match on Sunday against Saint Francis U. at 12:00 p.m.