|
Junior Cole
Larned netted his first career goal less than five minutes
into the match, but the Ravens fell to Bridgeport this
evening. |
Bridgeport Stuns
#9 Franklin Pierce, 2-1
Thelusma bags winner in 87th minute to cap Purple Knights
comeback from early deficit
NEW HAVEN, Conn.
(August 24, 2007) –
Junior
Romaldi
Thelusma (North Babylon, N.Y./North Babylon)
scored with 3:47 remaining in regulation to lift the University of
Bridgeport to a 2-1 season-opening victory over Franklin Pierce
University, ranked No. 9 in the National Soccer Coaches Association
of America (NSCAA)/adidas Division II men’s preseason coaches’ poll,
on day one of the Southern Connecticut State University Autumn
Classic at Jess Dow Field this evening.
Romaldi’s
goal capped a Bridgeport comeback from a goal down less than five
minutes into the match. He was in the right spot at the right time
to pounce on a rebound off a shot by grad student
Blaise Njie (Banjul,
Gambia) and
convert the match-winner in the 87th minute. Njie played
a role in both Purple Knight goals, finishing with a goal and
assist. He equalized the match with a breakaway goal off a Franklin
Pierce turnover in the 28th minute.
Junior
midfielder Cole
Larned (Wilton, Conn./Wilton)
opened the scoring for Franklin Pierce just 4:44 into the contest.
Larned lofted the shot over the Bridgeport keeper after chasing down
a long pass over the defense by senior captain
Michel Vitulano
(Montreal, Quebec/College de Maisonneuve)
for his first career goal.
Junior
goalkeeper Ryan
Brooks (Selkirk, N.Y./Herkimer County CC)
made three saves to give Bridgeport a shot at the comeback. Senior
All-American
James Thorpe (East Longmeadow, Mass./Bridgton Academy)
also finished with three stops.
Franklin
Pierce (0-1-0, 0-0-0 NE-10) looks to rebound on Sunday when it faces
Post University at 11 a.m. Post suffered a 1-0 loss to host Southern
Connecticut State in tonight’s second match. Bridgeport (1-0-0,
0-0-0 NE-10) will face SCSU on Sunday at 1:30 p.m.
MATCH
STATISTICS & PLAY-BY-PLAY