September 26, 2009

BRYANT MEN'S SOCCER FALLS TO NEW HAMPSHIRE, 2-0, AT HOME

Boxscore

SMITHFIELD, RI - After a scoreless first half, the University of New Hampshire men's soccer team used two second-half goals to pick up a 2-0 win over host Bryant University in non-conference action Saturday afternoon at Bulldog Stadium. UNH improves to 3-4-1 with the victory while Bryant drops to 2-6.

Both teams battled hard throughout the first half of play, with each having good scoring opportunities that came up empty.

In the 33rd minute, UNH's Robin Gerum had his shot to the left of the goal crease scooped up by Bryant rookie goalie Matt Miscione following a corner kick.  

The Bulldogs countered with a quality chance of their own early in the second half, as Kyle Paton sent in a low shot from just outside the goal box that narrowly missed the foot of a diving Mike DaFonte, who had snuck in past the UNH defense.

But the Wildcats would break the scoreless tie in the 75th minute with a back-breaking goal for the first score of the contest. Following a foul near midfield, UNH's Alex Russell sent a long soft free kick into the box. When Bryant was unable to clear it out, the ball trickled past the Bulldog defense and beyond the reach of an obstructed Miscione to put the Wildcats up, 1-0.

Chris Banks would add another goal for the visitors five minutes later to put the game out of reach.

UNH outshot Bryant, 13-5, on the day, as Miscione made seven saves in net for the Bulldogs. 

Bryant will return to action next Friday when the Bulldogs open Northeast Conference play with a game at Long Island. The Bulldogs will return home to host St. Francis (NY) on Sunday, Oct. 4.