PSC Falls to BSA in All-Bobcat Home Opener

Paul Smiths, NY ~ The Paul Smith's College men's soccer team recently hosted United States Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA) Division I Bryant & Stratton Albany, dropping their home opener to the visitors 4-1 on a chilly Wednesday night.

The Bobcat-v.-Bobcat matchup saw eight cautions as yellow cards were handed out equally between the two squads.  The visiting Bobcats, bringing only 13 players to the contest, were on the ropes early, but a well-timed through ball put them ahead in the 5th minute as Tajay Braham slid one past goalkeeper Cazimir Couble (Spofford, NH).

The hosts continued to press and netted the equalizer in the 22nd minute as first year player Maddox Johnson (Ellicotville, NY) scored his third goal of the season after a beautiful solo effort from Nathan Wiley (Wareham, MA) resulted in a breakaway for Johnson.

The celebration, however, was short-lived.  Less than a minute later Xavier Soler picked the pocket of a Bobcat defender and delivered a beautiful strike up and over Couble to put the visitors up 2-1.

The hosts tried to claw back, but an errant play on the back line made it 3-1 BSA in the 63rd minute.  Trying to press, the hosts then conceded again as Braham would score his second of the night to make it 4-1.  Liam Curthoys (Rhinebeck, NY) almost halved it with just two minutes left in regulation after Johnson was taken down in the box, but goalkeeper Paul Grassel guessed correctly and made the save to preserve the 4-1 victory for BSA.

The Bobcats move to 1-1 on the season and will travel to Vermont on Sunday and Monday to take on VSU Johnson and VSU Lyndon, respectively.  

You can follow the men's soccer team on Instagram at @paulsmithsmsoc or follow the general athletics account at @smitty_nation for scores, highlights, pictures, and much more!

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At Paul Smith's College, it's about the experience. As the only four-year institution of higher education located in the Adirondack Park in upstate New York, Paul Smith's provides real-world, hands-on learning in fields such as business and hospitality, culinary management, forestry, environmental sciences, and natural resources. We can draw on industries and resources available in our backyard while preparing students for successful careers anywhere. Our community of resourceful, enterprising, supportive, and adventurous individuals collectively provides experiential education, student support in the classroom and beyond, and meaningful opportunities for our alumni. We pride ourselves on research and advocacy on issues that improve our planet and the lives of the people who inhabit it. Learn more at www.paulsmiths.edu.