Smithfield, R.I. –On a night when Brown’s high scoring attack was held to just three goals, midfielders Tim Jacob (Palo Alto, CA) and Brendan Caputo (Westbury, NY) stepped up with two goals each to help #10 Brown hold off a fourth quarter Bryant challenge and earn a 9-8 non-league win over the Bulldogs to capture the Ocean State Cup for the third straight year.
Coach Lars Tiffany’s Brown team extends its record to 11-3 overall heading into Saturday’s critical Ivy game against Dartmouth, while Bryant falls to 6-9.
Brown scored four unassisted goals in the opening 2:52 on scores by Caputo, Jacob junior Will Gural (Haverford, PA) and sophomore Larken Kemp (Greenwich, CT) to open up a 4-0 advantage.
The Bulldogs finally got on the scoreboard when Tom Kennedy scored at the 9:42 mark to trail 4-1 after one quarter.
The two teams exchanged goals in the second quarter with junior attackman Henry Blynn (Villanova, PA) and Caputo scoring for the Bears and Shane Morrell and Cam Ziegler scoring for the Bulldogs.
Brown seemingly took control of the game and grabbed its biggest lead, 8-3, early in the second half on goals by junior attackman Kylor Bellistri (Potomac, MD) and Jacob.
Goals by Morrell and Brian Schlansker for the Bulldogs cut Brown’s lead to 8-5 with 5:07 left in the third quarter.
A blistering shot by Bears’ sophomore Dylan Molloy (Setauket) found the back of the net for the 54th time with 4:11 left to give the Bears a 9-5 lead heading into the final 15 minutes.
Bryant made a run at the Bears on a goal by Collin Gantz and two by Morrell to make it a one-goal game, 9-8, with 4:59 remaining.
Caputo paced the Bears overall with two goals and one assist.
Both goalies were brilliant with Brown goalie Jack Kelly (West Islip, NY), the reigning national Player of the Week, making 10 saves, and Bryant goalie Gunnar Waldt registering 15 saves.
The Bulldogs were paced by Morrell, who scored a game high four goals, and Collins Gantz, who added two goals.
Brown concludes its regular season on the road, traveling to Hanover, New Hampshire on Saturday, April 25, to face the Dartmouth Big Green in a must-win game for the Bears to advance to the Ivy League Playoffs. Face-off is scheduled for 1pm.