DAYTON, OHIO — Brett Allen scored twice and David DiNardo converted a penalty kick – the first for St. Bonaventure since 2005 – as the Bonnies (3-3-0) jumped out to a 3-0 lead and held on for a 3-2 victory over Wright State (4-2-0) Sunday evening at Alumni Field.
"I thought it was a great team effort," said Bonnies head coach Mel Mahler. "In two road games this season we've had a lead and given up two scores to lose. I'm proud of the guys for going on the road and getting a victory. That was one of our most immediate goals."
In road games at Pitt and Buffalo, the Bonnies were up 1-0 before surrendering the lead. This time, however, Mahler's squad surged ahead behind three goals in the first 34 minutes, before the Raiders crept back into the contest. The win away from McGraw-Jennings Field is the first of the season for St. Bonaventure.
"Give Wright State credit," said Mahler of the home side, which has now lost two in a row after winning four straight. "They are a hard, aggressive team and they didn't allow us to do the things we like to do and they took us out of our rhythm."
Allen, a senior midfielder from Rochester, N.Y., went to goal alone in the eighth and 34th minutes, surrounding a successful PK from defender David DiNardo, who also guided the Brown and White's defensive efforts.
"He was always in the right spot at the right time and he kept us organized at the back," said Mahler of the Ottawa, Ontario native who netted his first goal of the season and first converted PK since 2005.
Senior Shane Nolan made his first career start in goal and turned aside six shots, including a "world class" save late in the contest to preserve the one-goal margin.
"He did an absolutely wonderful job," said Mahler. "I'm amazed at what he was able to do and that (save) helped us to win the game."
The Bonnies play the last of a three-game road swing at Houghton on Wednesday.
NOTES: The Bonnies will return to southeast Ohio at the end of October … "It's good for us to understand that we can travel this far and get a good result, because we will have to come back out here to play Xavier and Dayton in a month's time," said Mahler ... the Raiders outshot the Bonnies 21-6 in the game, including 9-1 in the second half … two yellow cards and one red were given in the game … No St. Bonaventure player had more than one shot, while three players for Wright State had more than three … Allen added the final goal for St. Bonaventure just 1:58 after DiNardo's penalty kick.
