COLLEGEVILLE, Pa. – The Ursinus College men's soccer team had its chances to pull close, but fell to Kean, 3-1 on Wednesday night at Patterson Field.
The Cougars (4-2-1) got on the board first, thanks to a goal from sophomore Kamsi Udodi just shy of 16 minutes into the match. A pass was sent deep into Bears territory, toward the top of the box. The ball was misread by the defense, bouncing over them and setting up a streaking Udodi for an easy, open-net score.
Ursinus (2-4, 0-1) responded quickly, setting up a pair of scoring chances just minutes after. First, sophomore Colin Klingman attempted a shot from about 25 yards out that sailed inches above the crossbar. A minute later, freshman Alexis Ayala ripped a shot from the top of the box that was reeled in by Kean keeper Bryce Horn.
The Bears found the equalizer off the foot of junior Ben Amaral, who fielded a free kick from freshman Jacob Helwig inside the box, turning to his right and sending the low shot to the bottom left corner. The goal was the first of the season for Amaral – the fifth of his career. Helwig's pass was from about 37 yards out and it looked as though it was misplayed, as it dribbled off the turf before finding its way to Amaral. The well-played pass turned into the first point of Helwig's career.
Junior Justin Molyneaux nearly made it two goals in 20 seconds, but his hard shot rattled off the post.
Molyneaux was in the thick of another opportunity, as he and freshman D.J. Briggs almost put their squad ahead with a nifty play with less than 10 minutes left in the first half. Molyneaux took a throw from the sideline, tossing the ball within several yards of the Cougars' net, when Briggs rose above a defender and sent a header toward the net. It looked like it may sneak over the keeper, but Horn made the save.
Kean got back on top with less than five minutes to play in the first frame, as Antoine Gbamou sent a pass in from the top right corner of the box that found Erick Reyes, who tapped in the score from the doorstep.
Just like earlier in the first half, the Bears had a chance to tie the match, but they couldn't find the finishing touch. Helwig almost had assist No. 2 when he threw the ball in, sending Amaral on a break toward the goal. Amaral slid the cross to Ayala, whose one-touch shot from five yards out went over the crossbar.
The Cougars added an insurance goal three minutes after the Bears' miss, scoring on a header from Vinceroy Nelson that deflected off the right post and into the back of the net. The freshman finished a cross from Matthew McAvoy, who sent the ball into the box from the far left corner.
The Bears continue their homestand with a CC match against Washington College on Saturday.
