Brown's Hat Trick Lifts CCSU Past Bryant

Sophomore Christopher Brown scored three goals and senior captain Yan Klukowski added one goal and two assists to lead the Central Connecticut men's soccer team past Bryant University on Wednesday afternoon at the CCSU Soccer Field. Junior forward Raphael Guimaraes also scored his second goal of the season in the 5-0 victory over the Bulldogs.

Although the Blue Devils were dominating the first half, with a 12 to one advantage in shots, they could not manage to get on the board in the first period. Freshman goalkeeper Andrew Snell recorded five saves for the Bulldogs in the opening period. CCSU also held an advantage in corner kicks, with four to Bryant's one.

The second half proved to be a different story when Guimaraes headed in a Klukowski cross just six minutes into the second half. The scoring continued when junior defender Mersad Sahanic made a terrific run going forward and was taken down inside the penalty box only three minutes later. The Blue Devils were awarded a penalty kick and Klukowski put it away for his second PK of the year and team leading sixth goal of the season.

In the 64th minute junior Hadji Diop headed a ball past the defense and Brown came on to finish to the left side of the net for his first of three goals on the afternoon. Brown struck again when Klukowski played him a long through ball and found himself one-v-one with Snell. Brown put it away to put the Blue Devils up 4-0. Only four minutes later the sophomore forward received another long pass down the sideline, this time from senior Ben Howe. Brown chipped it over the keeper at an impossible angle and the ball grazed the cross bar before ending in the back of the net.

Klukowski and Brown are now tied for the team lead with six goals apiece, while Klukowski leads the team in assists and total points with four and 16, respectively. Klukowski came into today's game tied for 23rd in the nation in goals per game with 1.71. The MAC Hermann Trophy candidate was also tied for first in points for the Northeast Conference, with 12, before today's game.

Junior goalkeeper Paul Armstrong made two saves for the Blue Devils while keeping a clean slate. Snell finished with six saves for Bryant, while Chris Bronski recorded one for the Bulldogs.

CCSU is now 6-2-1 on the season and will have a week off before traveling to St. Francis (NY) for their next game on Friday October 10 at 3:00 p.m. Bryant falls to 1-9-1 this season and will be hosting Long Island University this Friday, October 3 at 3:00 p.m.