The University of Rhode Island men’s soccer team went 2-0 this week by defeating Quinnipiac University on Saturday night, 2-1, and the New Jersey Institute of Technology on Wednesday night, 2-0.
On Saturday night, Quinnipiac scored first when Bobcats forward, Rashawn Dally netted a breakaway assist midway through the first half.
“It was a pretty even game throughout,†head coach Gareth Elliot said. “We both had chances in the first half, and they took theirs and we didn’t take ours so it was a bit of a scrap tonight. It was a battle of the wills.â€
The Rams took advantage of their chances in the second half, tying the game when sophomore Ryan Bailey found sophomore Dante Lamb for the goal.
“Dante’s goal – great goal, great finish, great ball by Ryan Bailey,†Elliott said. “Dante took a great touch and buried it to get his second of the year.â€
Eleven minutes after Lamb’s goal, Bailey became the third Ram to have a multipoint night this season after scoring what would become the game-winning goal in the 66th minute.
In the final seconds of the game, sophomore goaltender Nils Leifhelm came up with a huge save on a shot by Quinnipiac’s Ryan Scheiderman to secure the Ram’s win.
Rhode Island remains undefeated against Quinnipiac in the four times they played each other this year.
“I think we worked hard as a team for it. I think the team played well overall,†sophomore Dante Lamb said.
On Wednesday night, Bailey got it started for the Rams, scoring off a rebound in the 22nd minute. The Rams added another goal in the 88th minute when Lamb scored his second goal of the week.
Leifhelm recorded four saves in the game.
The Rams’ next game is at the University of Connecticut on Saturday before they return to Kingston on Sept. 23 at 7 p.m. against the St. Francis Brooklyn Terriers.