By Jim Fenton
SALEM, Mass. -- Nick Anselmo (Tyngsborough, Mass.) picked an opportune time to score the first goal of his Bridgewater State University men's soccer career.
The senior scored with just 3:07 remaining to enable the Bears to tie Salem State University, 3-3, at Alumni Field Saturday afternoon.
BSU had trailed by a goal on three occasions when Anselmo pulled the Bears even as time was running out.
Anselmo scored on a header in front after a corner kick by senior Filippo Mucci (Vineyard Haven, Mass.), who finished the day with a goal and two assists.
BSU is now 7-5-1 and 4-1-1 to lead the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference with a pair of regular-season conference games to go.
Salem State is now 5-3-5 and 1-1-4 in the MASCAC after its third consecutive tie.
The Vikings took a 1-0 lead 21:25 into the game when graduate student Iago DeSousa-Vieira (Medford, Mass.) scored on a penalty kick.
The Bears tied it at 37:53 on a penalty kick goal by Mucci, his fourth marker of the season.
The Vikings retook the lead at 2-1 at 47:23 when DeSousa-Vieira scored by one-timing a cross into the right side of the net.
BSU tied it again at 48:58 when senior Ryan Healy (Cork, Ireland) scored his first goal, assisted by Mucci.
After a corner kick by Mucci, Healy headed the ball from near the goal line just under the crossbar.
DeSousa-Vieria completed his hat track at 81:52 with his ninth goal of the season to give Salem State a 3-2 lead.
The Bears were attempting to clear the ball, but it was blocked by DeSousa-Vieria. The ball caromed towards the empty net where he tapped it in.
BSU junior goalkeeper Kyle Sullivan (Enfield, Conn.) made three saves.
Salem State sophomore Brady Whitmarsh (Attleboro, Mass.) had nine stops.
The Bears had a 17-10 edge in overall shots, 12-6 in shots on goal.
BSU will host the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth on Tuesday at 7 p.m. on Senior Night at Mazzaferro Field.
Salem State also has a non-conference game next on the schedule, hosting WPI on Wednesday at 4 p.m.