WESTFIELD, Mass. – Bridgewater State University bolted to a 3-1 halftime lead and went on to defeat Westfield State University, 4-2, in a Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCASC) men's soccer game on Saturday, Sept. 18.

Bridgewater remains unbeaten at 5-0 (1-0 MASCAC) after posting the key road victory in the conference opener. The Bears have outscored their opponents 25-6 over the first five games. Westfield is 4-2 and 0-1 in the MASCAC.

Four players scored in the Bears' balanced attack. Matt Palatino (Ludlow, Mass.) opened the scoring 4:37 into the game with an uncontested goal that was set up after two Westfield defenders collided with Owl goalie Jeff Pepoli (Ashburnham, Mass.), who came out to retrieve a loose ball.

Donald Flores (Cranton, R.I.) scored off a restart in the 25th minute for a 2-0 Bridgewater lead.

Westfield sliced the lead in half when junior Josh Severns (Suffield, Conn.) scored in the 28th minute.

Bridgewater bounced right back for a 3-1 halftime edge on Mike Fraser's (Marshfield) goal in the 33rd minute. The Bears took a commanding 4-1 lead on Jose DePina's (Boston, Mass.) team-leading seventh goal of the season in the 59th minute.

Severns closed out the scoring in the 72nd minute.

Bridgewater outshot Westfield, 15-13. Bear goalie DJ Siewierski (Stow, Mass.) recorded six saves while Pepole had three stops for the Owls.