PROVIDENCE, R.I. — Host/No. 19-ranked Brown University went 1-1 on the final day of the 2022 Bruno Classic as the Bears fell to No. 4 Stanford University, 23-7, prior to clipping the wings of the United States Air Force Academy, 17-12.
“I think we had a productive day with the split,” said head coach Felix Mercado. “I felt that for the first half against Stanford we matched their intensity and that is all you can ask when you are playing a top-four opponent. As for the Air Force game, our offense was clicking early and we got some big shots. I feel like we could have played better team defense but we will get to work on that. We look forward to another tough game against Pacific tomorrow.”
Facing the No. 4 Cardinal, the Bears struggled with Stanford’s offense. Cole Atwell led the Bears with three goals, while Gabe Chang and Ilias Stothart both contributed pairs of markers.
After Stanford scored its first goal of the game, Chang responded with two goals within a minute to put Brown up 2-1. Those were the last goals for Brown in the first quarter as Stanford scored the next five to go up 6-2.
Atwell had two goals in the second quarter but Stanford outscored Brown 10-2 during the second and third quarters to take control of the game.
Stothart found the back of the net twice in the fourth quarter with Atwell scoring once in the final frame.
Taking on Air Force in the host team’s final game of the weekend, the Bears exploded for nine goals in the first quarter against the Falcons. Chang started the game with a goal nine seconds in to put the Bears on top. After a goal by Air Force, Stothart and Evan Moore each found the back of the net.
Two goals from Air Force tied the game before Chang scored another marker to put Brown back up ten seconds later. Back-to-back strikes by Atwell and Leo Berkman increased the lead for Brown. After an Air Force goal with 2:43 left on the clock, Connor Enright, Berkman and Leo Hoffmeister scored in the final 90 seconds of the quarter to put Brown up 9-5.
Stothart, Chang and Matt Simko each dented the twine for the Bears in the second quarter as both teams scored three in the eight-minute frame.
Air Force started the second half with a goal less than two minutes in to cut into Brown’s lead, but the Bears held the Falcons scoreless the rest of the quarter. Hoffmeister, Daniel Hadar and Filip Aleksic all scored during the remainder of the quarter as Brown continued to pull away.
Stothart and Berkman each scored during the final quarter for Brown.
Kole Newman finished the game with 11 saves in goal for the Bears.
Release courtesy Brown University Athletics Communications
