The men’s soccer team’s three-game winning streak continued as Brown (3-0) defeated Holy Cross 2-1 in overtime Sunday evening. Goals from Quinn English ’18 and Toby Howell ’19 sealed the Bears’ third victory, which followed a 2-0 win over Quinnipiac Friday night. For the past three seasons, Bruno has opened up 3-0, though the results of the remaining 14 games have been mixed. This year, the team hopes the rest of its season will follow suit.
“We went 3-0 last season and then went 5-8, so it’s about maintaining that consistency. 3-0 is a great start, but it’s three out of 17,” English said.
Though the Bears outshot the Crusaders (1-1-1) five to four in the first half, missed opportunities plagued Bruno’s offense.
Holy Cross got on the board first. In the 11th minute, a defensive breakdown by Bruno resulted in a Crusader goal that was last touched by a Brown player.
“We started off fine. We were doing well, and then we scored on ourselves,” said Head Coach Patrick Laughlin. “We went into a funk a little bit and weren’t playing as well.”
But it would be the only goal for Holy Cross. Multiple crucial stops by goalkeeper Joey Cipicchio ’18 kept the Crusaders at bay, and the Bears entered halftime with just a one-goal deficit.
“In the locker room, we got together and decided we weren’t going to go 1-0,” English said. “Our energy took over in the second half.”
The newfound intensity was evident as Brown retook the field for the final forty-five minutes of play, displaying better possession and working their offense well. English’s first goal of the season evened the score at 1-1 in the 71st minute, and two big saves by Cipicchio forced overtime.
Five minutes into overtime play, Howell drove a header into the Holy Cross net off a long cross from English to secure the win.
“The assist I feel better about, actually, because it was the game winner,” English said. “It’s also nice to get someone else a goal. It’s better for me to get an assist than a goal.”
The Bears will travel to Oklahoma and Texas to play Tulsa and Southern Methodist University, respectively, next Friday and Sunday before returning home to play in-state rival University of Rhode Island Sept. 23.
