BRIDGEWATER, Mass. -- The Bridgewater State University wrestling team dropped a 31-12 decision to visiting Western New England University in the inaugural Bears Cup on Saturday afternoon at John J. Kelly Gymnasium.

The Bears fall to 0-2 in dual meet competition on the young season while the Golden Bears improve to 4-1.

Western New England captured seven of the ten bouts including the first five of the match which started at the 149-pound weight class.

The Golden Bears jump cassled out to a 24-0 lead. Freshman James Linder (Oakdale, Conn.) opened the match with a 17-2 technical fall win at 149, while freshman Colin Carlin (Glenville, N.Y.) and junior David Lisk (Manasquan, N.J.) pinned their opponents at 157 and 184, respectively.

Sophomore Christian Curley (Bridgewater, Mass.) got the host Bears on the board with an 11-4 decision competing out of the 197-pound weight class.

Sophomore Nemo Pettway (Fairfield, Conn.), however, answered with a 4-1 decision in the batttle of the heavyweight to extend the lead to 27-3 and to secure the win and the Bear Cup for Western New England.

Bridgewater won two of the final three bouts to account for the final score of 31-12. Junior Sei Dolomengi (Brooklyn Park, Minn.) improved to 5-2 on the season with a 9-1 major decision at 125, while classmate Malcolm Chrispin (Hyde Park, Mass.) cruised to a 17-1 technical fall victory at 141.

Both teams travel to Springfield College next Saturday, November 23rd for the Doug Parker Invitational.