Bulldogs end season strong with 3-1 win at Central Connecticut

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – The Bryant University men's soccer team wrapped up the 2016 campaign on a high note, defeating Central Connecticut State University, 3-1, on Sunday afternoon.

Entering the day with a chance to make to the Northeast Conference Tournament, the Bulldogs (3-10-3, 2-2-3) need Fairleigh Dickinson and Sacred Heart to draw, as the three were tied for fourth place. Both the Knights and Pioneers had the tiebreaker over Bryant, but it was Sacred Heart that locked up the final playoff spot thanks to a 2-0 win on the road.

Bryant was able to do its job in a must-win contest and jumped on the Blue Devils (2-12-3, 1-5-1) early. Sophomore Nathaniel Brown (Queens, N.Y.) found himself alone after a change of possession on the left side. He blasted a shot to the far right post and buried in the score in the eighth minute.

It was the first shot on goal of the contest, but one of Bryant's nine first-half shots, five being on net. The Bulldogs also won five corners and did not allow a Blue Devil shot until the 36th minute. The first shot on target by the hosts did not come until the 39th minute, as DeShawn Parker fired one from outside the box, but junior Nick Stewart (South Windsor, Conn.) remained alert despite a mellow afternoon and made the save.

The aggressive and fast play from the Bulldogs paid off once again shortly before halftime. Senior Pedro-Lucas Ferreira (East Boston, Mass.) lined up for the fifth corner from the right flag and bent the set piece into the box with help from howling winds. The ball curved towards keeper Carson D'Ambrosio and deflected off of his side and into the goal to the near post with under three minutes in the opening half.

The Blue Devils were motivated in the second half to get back into the contest and properly honor their seniors in the final home match of the year. They fired off five if their seven shots and placed two on goal while out earning Bryant in the corner department, 3-1.

The Bulldogs' defense limited CCSU to clear looks, but a score was finally found in the 79th minute. Daquan King struck a shot that was initially blocked, but he stayed with the ball and hustled down his own rebound. He settled the ball and sent a shot over the reach of Stewart to make it 2-1.

But the Bulldogs answered just five minutes later to spoil the potential comeback and solidify a positive end to the season. Junior Thomas Binder (Vienna, Austria) and David Abunaw (West Hartford, Conn.) worked together on a semi breakaway. Binder waited patiently for Ambrosio to come off his line, then passed to Abunaw, who sent in a shot to the open net.

Abunaw's score sealed the deal and it also marked his first goal in a Bryant uniform. Brown's goals came on his only shot attempts, as freshman George Gill (Cork Munster, Ireland) had three shots with one goal to lead the team. Curtis Orth (Ancaster, Ont.), (Jason Norat (Wilmington, Del.) and Ferreira each had two shot attempts with one on net.

Andres Muriel was one of three Blue Devils to attempt shots, and he led all performers with four and one on target. King had two shots to go along with the score and Parker had the other shot. D'Ambrosio made five saves in the loss.