BRIDGEWATER, Mass. – The Bridgewater State University men's soccer team remained unbeaten in conference play as the host Bears blanked Worcester State University, 5-0, this afternoon at Swenson Field.
Sophomore forward Matt Palatino (Ludlow, Mass.) scored twice for the Bears who improve to 8-2 on the season and 3-0 in the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC). Worcester State falls to 3-8 overall and 0-3 in the MASCAC.
Bridgewater dominated play throughout, outshooting the Lancers by a decisive margin of 20-2. The Bears however could not crack the scoreboard in the opening half. Bridgewater finally got on the board in the 52nd minute as sophomore forward Simao Mendes (Brockton, Mass.) received the ball on a cross from junior forward Jose DePina (Boston, Mass.) and ripped a shot off the bottom of the cross bar and just over the goal line.
Bridgewater continued to control play, and in the 69th minute struck again. Sophomore midfielder Tucker Fairbanks (Plympton, Mass.) made a wonderful pass between two defenders to Palatino who drilled a shot inside the near post. Less than two minutes later Palatino was at it again. Junior midfielder Dan Roberts (Braintree, Mass.) started the play with a great run down the middle of the field. Roberts sent a through ball to a streaking Palatino who beat the Worcester keeper one-on-one.
In the 75th minute off a short corner, junior midfielder Donald Flores (Cranston, R.I.) sent a cross that was sent back through the box by junior forward Said Ekinci (Sakarya, Turkey). The ball came to the feet of Fairbanks who found the back of the net with his first goal of the season. Fifty-three seconds later, Flores sent freshman forward Colin Neri (Upton, Mass.) in on a breakaway as Neri chipped the ball over the charging Worcester goaltender from about 22 yards away.
Fairbanks finished with a goal and an assist for the Bears while Flores tallied a pair of helpers. Junior DJ Siewierski (Stow, Mass.) recorded his fourth shutout of the season as he was forced to make just one save.
Junior Evan Wilga (Webster, Mass.) turned aside seven shots between the pipes for the Lancers.
The Bears, who are 10-0-1 over their last 11 MASCAC regular season matches, will travel to Salem State University next Saturday (1:00 PM) for a key conference game with the Vikings. Bridgewater is averaging more than three goals a game and has outscored its opponents 37-13. Worcester heads to Western Connecticut State University on Wednesday night to take on the Colonials at 7:00 PM.