Junior Nicoló Baudo scored in the 103rd minute to complete the comeback as the Canisius men's soccer team defeated Bryant University 3-2 in double overtime at the Demske Sports Complex on Sunday afternoon.
“Our team showed tremendous character and was really resilient with that comeback win today,” Canisius coach Dermot McGrane said. “I thought we did a good job with possession in the first half, but was really disappointed to see Bryant score those two goals. We were able to respond, and that's a great win to build on for our team.”
Bryant (1-3-0) scored twice in a span of five minutes late in the first half. Ryan Rose gathered a loose ball off a header and then found Brett Larocque in the left side of the penalty area. Larocque fired a shot into the lower-right corner to put the Bulldogs on the board in the 35th minute. Larocque added his second goal of the game less than five minutes later. Thomas Binder sent a cross from the left side into the box, and Larocque shot the pass just off the lower part of the crossbar to give Bryant a 2-0 lead.
Canisius (2-2-0) came out more aggressively on offense in the second half, getting six shots in the opening 10 minutes and 18 shots in the next 45 minutes. The Griffs continued to apply the pressure throughout the second half, and finally got on the scoreboard in the 76th minute as senior Asani Samuels drove down the left side of the penalty area. Samuels gathered the ball and fired the shot into the right corner of the net to cut the deficit to 2-1.
Canisius tied the game in the 86th minute as redshirt junior Ryan Schroen sent a free kick toward the Bryant net. A header from sophomore Thomas Tuepen went to the middle of the penalty area, and freshman Anthony Mandola headed the ball into the net to tie the game with his first collegiate goal.
Canisius had a chance to win the game at the end of regulation, but a shot from Mo Kretschmer went wide with less than three minutes remaining. Late in the first overtime, Samuels had a chance to win it when he gathered a pass from senior Jon Cary near the net but couldn't get it past Bryant goalkeeper Chris Knaub.
Baudo won the game in the just over two minutes into the second overtime. Knaub came out and tried to gather the cross but couldn't control the ball, which allowed Baudo sent it home for the game-winner.
Junior Andrew Coughlin (2-2-0) made two saves to pick up the win.
Canisius returns to the field next Sunday, when the Golden Griffins host cross-town rival the University at Buffalo. Game time at the Demske Sports Complex is set for 7 p.m.
Notes: Canisius and Bryant met for the first time in men's soccer... Canisius has won its first two home games of the season for the first time since the 1996 season… Canisius has now won three straight at the Demske Sports Complex… Canisius overcame a two-goal deficit for the first time since Aug. 30, 2013, when Canisius won 3-2 in overtime at Bucknell.
