Men's Soccer Ranked 7th in New England

BRIDGEWATER, Mass. -- The Bridgewater State University men's soccer team is ranked seventh in the latest National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) Division III New England poll.

Bridgewater is currently 8-2 overall on the season and 3-0 in the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC).  The Bears, who are 10-0-1 over the last 11 MASCAC regular season matches, are tied for first place in the conference standings along with Salem State.  The two teams will go head-to-head on Saturday afternoon at 1:00 PM in Salem.

The Bears are averaging 3.7 goals per game this season and have outscored their opponents by a margin of 37-13.  Thirteen different players have scored for BSU and 18 have recorded at least one point.

Junior forward Jose DePina (Boston, Mass.) leads the Bears with nine goals, including three game-winners, and 19 points.  Sophomore forwards Matt Palatino (Ludlow, Mass.) and Simao Mendes (Brockton, Mass.) follow with 13 points apiece.  Palatino has scored six goals, while Mendes, the 2009 MASCAC Rookie of the Year, checks in with four goals and five assists.

Mike Fraser (Marshfield, Mass.) has rebounded nicely after missing all of last season due to injury.  The junior forward has five goals and a pair off assists for 12 points and is tied with DePina for the team lead in game-winners with three.

Freshman forward Craig Shadduck (Braintree, Mass.) and junior midfielder Donald Flores (Cranston, R.I.) round out the Bears' leading scorers.  Shadduck has two goals and six assists for ten points in his rookie campaign.  Flores, who like Fraser did not play last season, has a goal and six assists for eight points.

Junior Dan Roberts (Braintree, Mass.) and sophomore Tucker Fairbanks (Plympton, Mass.) provide stabilizing midfield play.  Seniors Pat Kenneally (Braintree, Mass.), Mark Vercollone (Pembroke, Mass.) and Mike White (Canton, Mass.) and freshman David Wilson (Charlton, Mass.) anchor a defensive unit that has limited opposing teams to just 5.8 shots on goal per game.

Junior goaltender DJ Siewierski (Stow, Mass.) has settled nicely into his role as the Bears' starting netminder.  Siewierski is 6-2 on the season with four shutouts, 39 saves and a 1.29 goals against average.

Williams College is the top ranked team in New England followed by Amherst College, Middlebury College, Babson College, Eastern Connecticut State University, Bowdoin College, Bridgewater, MIT, Wheaton College and Nichols College.

Bridgewater will host Wheaton on Wednesday, October 20th at seven o'clock under the lights at the newly renovated Swenson Field.

NSCAA Division III New England Ranking

(5th Poll -- October 5, 2010)

Also Receiving Votes: Keene State, Springfield