By Jim Fenton

BRIDGEWATER, Mass. -- The Bridgewater State University wrestling team dropped its season opener on Saturday afternoon.

The Bears were defeated by the University of Southern Maine, 27-18, at the Kelly Gym.

BSU registered points in four of the 10 matches against the Huskies. The Bears had three freshman making their collegiate debuts.

Senior Vincent Player (Duxbury, Mass.) won by fall at 184 pounds, senior Sei Dolomengi (Brooklyn Park, Minn.) won by forfeit at 125 pounds, junior Cqari Bacote (Springfield, Mass.) took a decision
victory at 165 and sophomore Nathan Quinones (Bergenfield, N.J.) prevailed with a sudden victory at 174.

Player, an NCAA Division III All-Northeast Region performer last season, won his first match of the new year over senior Aaron Foley-Pratt (North Berwick, Maine) by fall at 2:20.

Dolomengi, who posted 16 victories a year ago, began with the forfeit win.

Bacote, a transfer from American International College, was a 3-1 decision winner over senior Colin Sevigney (Wells, Maine). Quinones stopped freshman Nathaniel Wolyniec (Oxford, Conn.), 9-6.

Junior Michael Sanchez (Nesconset, N.Y.) was a winner for Southern Maine at 197 pounds over junior Christian Curley (Bridgewater, Mass.) by fall at 4:32 and Huskies' sophomore Jason Canavan-Dwyer (Keene, N.H.) won by fall at 4:33 over junior Michael Mastroianni (Milford, Mass.), who missed last season with an injury.

Senior Jake Craig (Norridgewock, Maine) at 133 for the Huskies by majority decision, 11-2, over freshman Ethan Buonanducci (Enfield, Conn.) while junior Kyle Moore (Kennebunk, Maine) gave Southern Maine a 4-2 victory over senior Malcolm Chrispin (Hyde Park, Mass.) at 141 pounds.

Also winning for the Huskies were sophomore Shane Moore (Kennebunk, Maine) at 149 pounds by a 4-1 decision over freshman Miguel Arcila Londono (Salem, Mass.) while freshman Adam St. Cyr (Jefferson, Maine) prevailed at 157 over freshman Avery Carl (Bridpot, Vt.) by technical fall.

BSU travels to Rhode Island next Saturday to take part in the Roger Williams Invitational starting at 9 a.m.