Men's Soccer Notches 4-1 MASCAC Win over Mass. Maritime

BRIDGEWATER, Mass. – The visiting Bridgewater State University men's soccer team posted a 4-1 victory over Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) rival Massachusetts Maritime Academy on Friday night at Clean Harbors Stadium.

The Bears improve to 5-7-2 on the season and 3-2-1 in the MASCAC with their third straight win, while the Buccaneers fall to 1-11-2 overall and 1-4-1 in conference play. Bridgewater State is 32-7-4 versus the Buccaneers since 1980.

BSU junior forward David Nelson (East Bridgewater, Mass.) opened the scoring in the 13th minute with his team-leading sixth goal of the season. Nelson split two defenders off a through ball from sophomore forward Ethan Lafontant (Chelmsford, Mass.), and beat the MMA keeper with a shot into the left side of the net.

That would be the only scoring of the first half as the Bears took a 1-0 lead into the break.

Sophomore defender Jack O'Toole (Wilbraham, Mass.) potted a header goal off a corner kick sent into the box by sophomore midfielder Nicolas Matias (Milford, Mass.) to extend the BSU advantage to 2-0 in the 50th minute. The goal marked O'Toole's second of the 2022 campaign.

The Buccaneers got on the board in the 57th minute as junior forward Jesus Sanchez (Dodge City, Kan.) hooked a shot off the left post and in from just outside the 18.

Less than five minutes later, Bridgewater regained the two-goal cushion converting again off a Matias corner kick. Sophomore defender Justin Silva's (North Attleboro, Mass.) header attempt found its way inside the back post for his first collegiate goal.

Senior forward Dan Rickson (West Warren, Mass.) capped off the 4-1 victory with his first goal off the season at the 79-minute mark. Off a through ball from junior midfielder Will Halben (Attleboro, Mass.), Lafontant chipped a shot over the oncoming MMA keeper. A hustling Rickson got to the ball before it rolled wide of the right post and drove a shot into the unguarded net.

Maritime finished with a 17-13 shot advantage for the game, while the Bears held a slight 3-2 edge in corner kicks and converted on two of them.

BSU senior goalkeeper William Russell (Sandwich, Mass.) turned aside five shots to record his fifth win of the season. Freshman netminder Nicos Pattihis (Limassol, Cyprus) made just one save in the setback for the Bucs.

In upcoming action, the Bears travel to Babson College on Tuesday afternoon for a three o'clock game with the Beavers. The Buccaneers entertain the Raiders of Rivier College on Monday night at seven.