Brady blasts game-winner in 89th minute

NEWPORT, R.I. - Just after Johnson & Wales University had a late go-ahead goal disallowed (offsides), Salve Regina University men's soccer advanced the ball past midfield and sophomore Nolan Brady (Needham, Mass.) blasted a shot to the right corner to clinch a 2-1 victory in the non-league intra-state meeting.

Senior Alex Wasilewski (San Juan Capistrano, Calif.) scored his second goal of the season and broke a scoreless tie two minutes into the second half. The Seahawks (2-1-0) had managed only one shot on goal in the first 45 minutes.

"Soccer is a funny game," said Seahawk head coach Craig O'Rourke II. "You can be outplayed for the vast majority of the game and still come away with the result. Our two goals were class finishes by two very good goal scorers (Wasilewski and Brady), but we have to perform at a higher level in order to have a legitimate shot at winning."

Johnson & Wales (1-1-1) knotted the game in the 77th minute as senior Kyle Metz (St. James, N.Y.) provided an unassisted tally. The Wildcats had eight shots in the first stanza, but came up empty.

The Wildcats nearly had the game-deciding goal when senior Ray Durski (Monroe, N.J.) dribbled down the left side and crossed with his left foot to classmate Dustin Hughes (Holden, Mass.) who headed the ball into the net with 1:33 on the clock. The would-be goal was immediately voided as the far sideline judge had raised his flag for offsides.

Meanwhile, Salve Regina goalkeeper Daniel Stern (King's Park, N.Y.) retrieved the ball from the back of his net and punted to midfield. The Wildcats were the first to make contact but the Seahawks gained possession quickly with senior Zachary Kraft (Chapel Hill, N.C.) taking it just over midfield up the left side before passing it to Brady in the center. Brady settled the pass with one touch before unloading with his right foot to the upper right corner of the net.

Senior Ryan Dzierzawski (Oakland, Mich.) tallied four saves in goal for JWU while Stern notched five stops in the win for Salve Regina.

Both teams return to action on Wednesday with the Wildcats on the road at Coast Guard (5 p.m.) and the Seahawks hosting MIT (4 p.m.) on Reynolds Field.