CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – In the opening game of the season and the first meeting between the two teams since 1937, the MIT men's soccer team defeated Bridgewater State University, 2-1, on Friday night.  The game marked the season-opener for both teams.

MIT took a 1-0 lead in the 17th minute on a goal by senior Ben Lewis (West Hartford, Conn.).  Lewis connected for his goal as his shot from 20 yards out deflected off a BSU defender and into the back of the net.  MIT, which dominated the first half of the game, wasted no time before putting another tally on the scoreboard. Freshman Sean Bingham (Garden City, N.Y.) put MIT up 2-0 when he notched his first collegiate goal.

The Engineers almost made it 3-0 later in the period when Lewis hit the crossbar in the 35th minute. The Engineers outshot Bridgewater, 10-1, over the first 45 minutes.

MIT continued to hold the upper hand during the opening few minutes of the second half, taking three shots in the first 10 minutes. Bridgewater State's offense started to come around in the 70th minute when junior forward Craig Shadduck (Braintree, Mass.) took the Bears' first shot on goal of the half.  Eight minutes later, he cut the MIT deficit to one when he scored on a diving header off a deflected shot from senior forward Adam Smith (Plympton, Mass.).

The Engineers return to action on Sunday, Sept. 2 when they host Emerson College at 1:00 p.m.  The Bears will be traveling to Babson College on Tuesday, Sept. 4 for their next game.