SMITHFIELD, RI – Hartwick's men's soccer team dropped a 2-1 decision on the road at Bryant University on Saturday in Smithfield, RI. The Hawks fell behind early only to tie the game later in the half. The Bulldogs answered right back for what proved to be the game-winning goal.
           
"Going behind early didn't help and we found it difficult to get to grips with the game," said Hartwick head coach John Scott. "We pulled one back, but rather than settle us down, we lost a second following a corner. The second half was better in terms of opportunities but we failed to either get the right contact on the ball or didn't do enough to get the end product."
           
It took the Bulldogs 10:51 to break the ice in the contest. Matt Guerriero took the ball to the right and shot from inside the Hartwick 18 past keeper Lenny Wilson (Aberdeen, Scotland/Cults Academy) for a 1-0 advantage.
           
Hartwick managed to even things at the 34:48 mark. A good buildup produced a cross from Wyatt Scott (Cicero, NY/Cicero North Syracuse). Mike Rood (Conklin, NY/Susquehanna Valley) laid the ball off for Jack Donaldson (Paisley, Scotland/Mars Hill University) who fired past Bryant keeper Chris Knaub to tie it.
           
Just one minute, 23 seconds later, Bryant jumped back in front for good.  Thomas Binder looped a shot up and over Wilson with Derek Blanchette and Pedro Ferreira earning assists for the eventual game-winner.
           
The Hawks would out-shoot the Bulldogs 8-2 in the second half while taking all four corners but were unable to push across the tying goal.
           
Wilson would finish with two saves. Knaub made five stops, including a key save of a Rood shot with just over 20 minutes remaining.
           
Hartwick will look to end its two-game slide next Friday night as it begins its defense of last season's Sun Belt title. The Hawks host Georgia Southern in a rematch of the 2014 championship match during True Blue Weekend. Kickoff is 7 p.m.