Box Score

NEW HAVEN, Conn. (September 10, 2011) - Bloomfield's men's soccer team fell to 0-3 on the season Saturday afternoon, as they dropped a 3-1 road decision to non-conference opponent Southern Connecticut State University. 

The Deacons fell behind in the 12th minute of play, when Luke Perry knocked a rebound past Bloomfield keeper Cody Sherman (Denville, NJ) to take a 1-0 lead.  The visitors would remain behind a tally through the remainder of the first half, despite six shots against the Owls defense.  Southern Connecticut would expand the lead to 2-0 in the 59th minute, when Paul Templeton converted a penalty kick after a Bloomfield foul in the box.  A second foul in the penalty area awarded the Owls another penalty kick opportunity ten minutes later, and Templeton converted to put the home team up three with just over 20 minutes remaining in the match. 

Bloomfield would prove unable to capitalize on second-half scoring chances, despite notching six shots and five corner kick opportunities.  The Deacons drew to within a pair of goals in the 79th minute, when senior midfielder Juan Ramirez (Medellin, Columbia) converted a penalty kick to put the visitors on the board. But a late-game comeback proved not to be in the works, as the Owls held on to preserve the 3-1 victory and send the Deacons home with a tough road setback. 

"We had some chances today to beat a very good team, but we let them slip away," Deacons head coach Peter-John Falloon said.  "Unfortunately the penalty kicks proved to be the difference.  We need to be smarter in the penalty area, and that's something we'll work on heading into next week.  We haven't gotten off to the start we wanted, but we still have plenty of time to reach the goals we have set for ourselves."

Sherman made three saves on the afternoon in goal for Bloomfield, while Ramirez registered three of the team's five shots on goal.  The Deacons totaled 12 shots in the loss, with reserves Jeffrey Dapaah (Newark, NJ) and Kemar Richards (Kingston, Jamaica) each notching a shot on goal. 

Bloomfield returns to action Wednesday, September 14, when they travel to Post University to begin their 2011 CACC schedule.  Kickoff time for the match has yet to be announced.