Sept. 26, 2009
Box Score
KINGSTON, R.I. - The Rhode Island men's soccer team dropped a 2-1 decision on 19th-ranked Boston University, Saturday night at the URI Soccer Complex. Sophomore Erkko Puranen (Viitasaari, Finland) scored the Rams' lone goal of the game.
The Terriers (6-2-1) jumped out to an early start as a sixth-minute corner resulted in a quick 1-0 advantage. BU's leading scored Aaron O'Neal put the visitors in front when he redirected a shot by Samuel Appiah for his sixth goal of the season. Michael Bustamante also picked up an assist on the tally, playing the ball to Appiah off a corner kick.
O'Neal found the back of the net again - for what would prove to be the game-winner - when he headed a cross from Ben Berube past URI senior goalkeeper Chris Pennock (Spennymoor, England) at the 22:29 mark.
Rhode Island (3-5-0) cut the Terriers lead in half before the break as freshman Thomas Lindroos (Espoo, Finland) broke up BU's clearing attempt and deflected the ball to sophomore Reece Markman (Dallas, Texas). Markman then played the ball to the corner where junior Matt Preyss (Chagrin Falls, Ohio) crossed a pass in to Puranen, who snuck a diving header past BU keeper Hrafn Davidsson to make the score 2-1 with under a minute to go.
The Rams carried that momentum into the second frame - where they both outshout (6-1) and out-cornered (6-1) Boston University - but were unable to knot the score. Rhody's best chance at an equalizer came in the 71st minute when sophomore Franco Lo Presti's (Whitby, Ontario) shot went over Davidsson but just wide of the far post.
A final-minute Rhody corner also proved to be dangerous but the BU defense was able to crowd the box enough to prevent URI from evening things up as the clock ticked down.
For the game, Rhode Island held an 11-6 advantage in shots as well as an 8-2 advantage in corner kicks. Pennock finished the night with one save while Davidsson stopped four shots for BU.
The Rams return to action on Oct. 3 when they travel to Binghamton for a 7 p.m. meeting with the Bearcats. The game will be televised in the Binghamton, N.Y. area on Time Warner Cable Sports.
