The University of Rhode Island men’s soccer team left New Britain, CT following a 1-1 draw against the Central Connecticut State University Blue Devils on Saturday.
The Rams entered the game with a record of 4-0-1, while the Blue Devils kicked off the game with a 0-5-0 record. In the first half, both teams defensively were able to keep each other at bay, but offensively struggled to find openings to score as URI attempted eight shots, while the Blue Devils went for 10 shots on goal. Neither team was able to find the back of the net until the Rams broke through in the 51st minute.
Fourth-year forward Brandon Bermingham passed the ball to third-year forward Íñigo Etxegarai, who was knocked down inside the box by Blue Devils fifth-year goalkeeper Michel Pinocely. Bermingham took the penalty kick and scored the first goal of the game, his second of the season and URI’s first penalty kick of the season. Bermingham is now tied with fourth-year midfielder Patrick Gryczewski and third-year Joan Sanchis for the team lead in goals this season.
Third-year CCSU defender Donghyeon You attempted to score on Rams third-year goalkeeper Nate DiLoreto, who had four saves at this point in the game, but You fired the ball high and out of bounds. Following the Rams goal kick, fourth-year defender Isnaba Namussé started off with the ball, passed the ball to fourth-year defender Rodrigo De Castro and he returned it to Namussé. Namussé fell down as CCSU’s second-year forward Ethan Agyare-Danso stole the ball, passed it to third-year midfielder Joey Tata who scored on URI’s DiLoreto, tying the game in the 73rd minute and finishing the game with a score of 1-1.
“Nate DiLoreto was solid in goal for us as he always is, we’re happy to see that Nate did a good job in there,” Rams Head Coach Gareth Elliot said. “Unfortunately, we gave up a goal on a mistake, we sort of stopped the shutout for us.”
While appearing in two games, the goal that CCSU scored was the only goal DiLoreto gave up this season so far.
“I think it was a little bit of a disappointing performance from us,” Elliot said. “It was a bit of let down coming off a big win on the road against Providence.”
The Rams and Blue Devils engaged in a physical 90-minute battle with both sides committing a combined 25 fouls in the game. URI attempted a total of 19 shots, while CCSU attempted 16 shots on goal.
“Definitely disappointed with the style of play we produced and the energy we produced in the game,” Elliot said.
Elliot also said that the team needs to bring it every game and wants the Rams to have a consistent high level of performance and wasn’t sure URI did that against CCSU compared to other games this season.
When the game came to a conclusion, a brawl broke out between several Rhode Island and CCSU players. The Rams attempted to score once more and lost possession of the ball with Central Connecticut knocking it out of bounds. URI regained the ball when fourth-year forward Isak Oystese had it and tried to pass it to fourth-year midfielder Ivan Montoro, while avoiding having the ball stolen by Blue Devils fourth-year midfielder Austin Rocke. Montoro tried sliding to stop Rocke from capturing the ball and wound up tripping him with Oystese stepping over him and pushing him to the ground, causing the brawl to take place.
The Blue Devils progressed to 0-5-1, while the 4-0-2 URI Rams extended their unbeaten streak to nine, dating back to last season.
URI will travel to Richmond, VA to begin their Atlantic 10 Conference season on Saturday at 7 p.m. to face the 3-1-2 Virginia Commonwealth University Rams. The game will be streamed on ESPN+.