Floating on the emotional high of being named Ivy League Champs the boys' began another week with the potential of it being the last of the season. As a team, we gathered in the Pizz for the NCAA's announcement of the 2011 tournament bracket. The video stream loaded and the silence was sickening. Although we had confidence in the committee, there was a significant chance that we may not get a bid. Finally the announcers finished their babbling and were ready to unveil the bracket. Unlike previous years, the bracket appeared in full all at once, but the catch was the print was very small. Coach was the first person to the screen panning the bracket as it flashed in front of our eyes. Fairfield at Brown! A roar of cheers cascaded through the halls of the Pizz. Another goal to cross off the boys' preseason checklist as complete.
Preparation for the 1st round match began that night with practice under the lights at 7 PM. The boys' were still flying from all of the recent news. Taking that into consideration, practice went well. Finishing up with a full-field scrimmage where the meat of our CB's greeted the sweet feet of our frontline with hostility, so much that the idea of "extra time" was out of the question. Our back line in combination with Big Ben Maurey up top creates a team with a whole lotta meat as we like to put it. It's a gamble depending on the day as to whether the small and skillful can prevail over the large and athletic. Typically, it's the dimensions of the pitch that determines the outcome, our smaller players enjoy a short and tight game much more than their larger counterparts.
The day of the day was upon us. The conditions, cold and rainy, were less than ideal. However, those were just the type of conditions that Bruno strives in. Mental fitness is one of the many invaluable characteristics of the BMS identity. ( You know what I mean if you already saw the result.)
From the kick-off til' the first half's whistle the Bears were all over the Stags. A first half effort by Evan the "Legend" Coleman and E-Rob was pulled out of the net by a late offsides flag. It seemed all but inevitable that the Bears would put numbers on the board in the first half. Opportunities rained in for Bruno but none could find the net. Then on their first shot of the game a lanky attacking midfielder found a ball that bounced perfectly to him in stride and struck it into the upper left corner of the goal. Stags 1 Bruno 0. Just minutes later Fairfield found their second goal; nothing short of miraculous for a team seemingly being pummeled throughout the first half. The bears entered the locker room facing a two goal deficit but not one of the players gave way to the thoughts of impending doom. After an inspirational halftime speech the boys' took Stevenson once again for what could be the final 45 minutes of the season.
As the clock counted down from 15 minutes remaining the boys' stayed focused. They pushed forward. Rosa finds a goal from the top of the box, 2-1. We were closer but not close enough. Less than a minute later Rosa takes another shot, rebound, goal for Mandel! At this point we could feel it, we were back in the game with the momentum at our backs. We drew a corner with 5 minutes remaining. The ball bounced around the box out to Leonard who dropped the hammer and struck a volley into the bottom corner. Brown 3 Fairfield 2. A much deserved win for Bruno. Three goals in 6 minutes, a fantastic come back victory. Touched with the magic of Stevenson Field we move on for a rematch at St. John's.
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