Fall River native leads Bryant University men’s soccer to first ever NCAA tournament victory

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Muslim Umar’s first goal of the season propelled 11th-seeded Bryant University to a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Seton Hall in the second round of the 2025 NCAA Division I Men’s Soccer Championship.

Early in the second half, Mamadi Jiana threaded a perfect pass down the field that sparked the decisive goal. Umar timed a header that broke the tie in a defensive battle.

The team is led by coach and Fall River native Ruben Resendes, and it is the first NCCA tournament win in school history.

Resendes had the Bulldogs ranked as high as 2nd in the country this season, the highest in program history.

In 2024, Bryant finished as the runner-up in the America East Conference tournament, losing the final to Vermont and finishing the season with a 10-6-4 record.

In 2023, the Bulldogs captured their first conference title and punched a ticket to their first Division I Men’s Soccer Championship tournament finishing with a record of 16-2-2.

The win advances Bryant (17-2-2), the highest seed remaining in their quadrant, to host Saint Louis in the round of 16 this weekend at the Bulldogs’ home pitch.