October 6, 2008
BULLDOGS BATTLE 24TH RANKED BROWN TUESDAY NIGHT
SMITHFIELD, RI- The Bryant University men's soccer team will travel to Providence, Rhode Island Tuesday for a battle under the lights against the 24th ranked Brown Bears. The Bulldogs broke an eight game scoreless streak on Sunday in a 3-1 loss to Fordham. Senior captain Manny Rodriguez (North Branford, Conn.) put home a penalty kick in the 57th minute to finally break through for Bryant, but the Bulldogs could not capitalize on a few late chances, and fell to the Rams for their eighth straight loss. Bryant also lost two other games last week, with a 5-0 loss to Central Connecticut, and then suffering a 2-0 defeat at the hands of Long Island on senior day. The Bulldogs have just three games remaining on their schedule, as they finish up on the road against Brown, Providence, and Albany.
Scouting the Bears
The Bears (6-2-1) were ranked 24th in last
week's NSCAA/Adidas national poll and have lost just two matches
all season. One of those losses came at the beginning of the season
to 2nd ranked St. John's. Senior defender Rhett
Bernstein leads the way for the Bears, having tallied four-straight
game winning goals in four wins for Brown. Bernstein was named Ivy
League Player of the Week and College Soccer News National Player
of the Week last week, on top of being named to Soccer America's
Men's Team of the Week. In the last game for the Bears, Bernstein
notched another game winning goal with a tally in the
73rd minute to lift Brown past Columbia, 2-1. Brown has
registered four-straight wins, including defeating 13th
ranked Boston College, 1-0, last week.
Fresh Faces
The Bulldog roster features 14 freshman this year, as well as two
transfers. The new class has accounted for nine of the thirteen
total points for the team. Freshman Ben Mello (Rehoboth,
Mass.) leads the team in points with four (2g, 0a) on the
season, including the game tying goal in the 88th minute
at Pittsburgh. Classmate Robb Rodriguez (North Branford,
Conn.) is second on the team with three points (1g, 1a),
while Anthony Restivo (Lisbon, Conn.) and
Nicholas Parisi (Holbrook, N.Y.) have each notched
one assist.
Follow Bulldog Action Live
The Bulldogs and Bears game will be available to listen to
via Brown's website here Tuesday night at 7 p.m.
