BRIDGEWATER, Mass. – The Framingham State University men's soccer team opened up Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) play with a 4-1 victory over host Bridgewater State University on Saturday afternoon at Swenson Field.

With the win, the visiting Rams improve to 3-2-1 (1-0 MASCAC) on the season.  The Bears, who have dropped four of their last five games, slip to 2-4 overall (0-1 MASCAC).

Freshman forward Jamie Plowman (Westborough, Mass.) got the visiting Rams on the board just 2:37 into the contest off an assist from junior midfielder Cory Carderio (Fall River, Mass.). Freshman midfielder Suhairu Kato (Lowell, Mass.) made it a 2-0 game in the 13th minute as he knocked home the rebound of a Plowman shot.

Carderio staked Framingham to a 3-0 lead in the 19th minute as he beat the BSU netminder with a shot to the top right corner from outside the 18.  The Rams would take the 3-0 advantage into the intermission.

FSU senior forward Alex Butcher (Auburn, Mass.) added to the lead in the 65th minute when he got behind the Bears' defense and scored off a rebound of his own shot.

Bridgewater avoided the shutout in the 86th minute on a breakaway goal by sophomore forward Andrew Chenard (Kingston, Mass.).  Chenard got behind the Rams' defense and slipped a shot past the keeper and inside the right post.

The Bears suffered the setback despite holding a 19-12 shot advantage as well as a 12-2 edge in corner kicks.

Sophomore netminder Jacob Nichols (Sturbridge, Mass.) turned aside six shots between the pipes for the Rams, while sophomore keeper Colin Jepson (Sandwich, Mass.) made five saves for the Bears.  

The MASCAC schedule resumes for the Bears next Saturday when they travel to Westfield State University for a noontime game with the Owls. The Rams entertain non-conference foe Rhode Island College on Tuesday afternoon at four.