Waleffe Scores Twice to Send Men’s Soccer Past Hartford 2-0

Friday, September 3

West Hartford, Conn.

7:30 PM

Brown University

1-0-0, 0-0-0

University of Hartford

0-2-1, 0-0-0

Brown

Hartford

Waleffe Scores Twice to Send Men’s Soccer Past Hartford 2-0

9/3/2021 10:10:00 PM | Men's Soccer

Box Score

WEST HARTFORD, Conn.- A pair of goals from senior Derek Waleffe powered the Brown men's soccer team past Hartford by a score of 2-0 on Friday night in the Bears' season opener. Both goals came off corner kicks as senior Will Crain, senior Malcolm Johnson and freshman Kyle Gee all collected assists in the win. For the game, Hartford (0-2-1) outshot Brown by a 12-9 margin, while each team tallied three shots on goal. Hartford also held a 9-4 edge in corner kicks.

Senior goalkeeper James Swomley stopped all three shots he faced in net for his fifth career shutout.

"It's a great start and I'm really happy for all the players, staff and the program," head coach Patrick Laughlin said. "It was such a long time without a game and it was great to be back on the field together. We played really well at times and also learned a lot about ourselves as a group."

Brown jumped on the board in the 13th minute as Crain served a left-footed ball into the middle of the box off a corner kick, which was headed by Waleffe into the left side of the net for the Bears first goal of the season.

Trailing 1-0 to start the second half, Hartford nearly scored the equalizer in the 49th minute off a corner of their own, but a header attempt rang off the crossbar.

After a couple of chances for the Hawks, Brown took advantage of another corner kick and added an insurance goal. Gee served a ball towards the top of the box where it was headed by Johnson towards goal, and Waleffe knocked the loose ball into the bottom left corner to give the Bears some breathing room at 2-0.

Hartford threatened once again in the 72nd minute, but the Brown defense came up strong again, thanks to a save by Swomley off a free kick, and Waleffe cleared a ball out of the box following a subsequent corner kick.

"Our defense stood up in the second half as Hartford threw numbers at us," Laughlin said. "Multiple players blocked shots and helped us keep our 2-0 lead."

Brown will take to their home pitch for the first time this season in their next match on Wednesday evening with a showdown against in-state rival Bryant at 7 p.m.