BRADFORD, Pa. – A Rhode Island early second-half goal proved to be the difference against St. Bonaventure (4-8-2; 0-3-1 Atlantic 10) Friday evening as the Rams (5-8-1; 2-2-1 A-10) defeated the Bonnies by a 2-1 margin.
Rhode Island's game-winning strike came in the 52nd minute compliments of Matt Sykes, the freshman midfielder's second goal of the evening and second of the year. Sykes received a cross from the right side of the pitch from Matt Ribbens, and the English native banged his shot off the inside of the left post to give the Rams their second league victory of the campaign.
URI got on the board in the game's first minute to put the Brown and White in an early hole. Ribbens sent a ball from the center of the pitch to the right flank to Jamie Eckmayer. The junior forward then delivered a cross to the left side of the box for Sykes, who beat keeper Mitchell Mack to his right.
The Bonnies got the equalizing tally after a beautiful thru ball from sophomore Brad Beaumont. The Courtice, Ontario native fed a ball between two Rhody defenders onto the waiting foot of Kaine Moar, and the fellow Canadian beat charging keeper Peyton Warwick to his right. The ball found the inside of the right netting for Moar's second goal of the season. However, that was as close as the Bonnies would get.
"It's another frustrating match," head coach Mel Mahler said. "In three of our four conference matches we've given up a goal within the first minute or two, and a penalty kick that was saved. We dig ourselves a hole and end up chasing the game, which is a difficult task for a young, inexperienced team.
"But I'm proud of the boys for fighting back to tie it before half. The credit goes to Rhode Island in the second half; they were the better team. They played with urgency and conviction and earned a good conference win on the road."
The Rams dominated much of the run of play, outshooting the Bonnies, 17-7, and out-cornering the Brown and White, 9-2. Mack made five saves on the evening while his counterpart from URI stopped one.
St. Bonaventure will look to bounce back and claim its first conference victory on Sunday when the team hosts Massachusetts. Game time is scheduled for 1 p.m. from McGraw-Jennings Field. Any changes will be announced on GoBonnies.com.
Game Notes: St. Bonaventure senior Joshua Gonsalves transferred from Rhode Island to St. Bonaventure following his sophomore season … the Toronto native hit the crossbar with a shot with just more than 25 minutes remaining … the game was played at Parkway Stadium due to unplayable conditions at McGraw-Jennings Field following heavy, persistent rain the previous few days.
