By Jim Fenton, The Enterprise (Brockton)
BRIDGEWATER, Mass. -- The Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference men’s soccer standings are crowded at the top, with only two points separating the first five teams.
With three games remaining, Bridgewater State University is in the lead at 3-1-0, followed by the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts, the Massachusetts Maritime Academy and Framingham State University (all 2-1-1), with Salem State University fifth at 2-2-0.
“I kind of expected it to be that way,’’ said BSU coach Brendan Adams, whose team is 6-6 overall. “At the beginning of the season, I tell the guys there are going to be a lot of one-goal games in this conference.’’
The Bears have a non-conference test tonight at 7 against Wheaton College (11-2-1) at Swenson Field before resuming MASCAC play.
BSU travels to Bourne to meet Mass. Maritime on Friday night, is at MCLA a week from Saturday and finishes at home on Nov. 1 against Salem State.
“Each game is going to be very difficult,’’ said Adams. “It’s that way all the way through the league.’’
The Bears finished third in the conference last season and won three straight tournament games to win the MASCAC title and earn a trip to the NCAA Division III tourney.
“It’s a nice accomplishment to win the regular season, but we want to stay healthy and keep getting better going into the tournament,’’ said Adams. “We want to be playing our best soccer then.’’
BSU has been led by junior center midfielder Kolin Campbell, who has “probably been our most steady player. He’s so consistent,’’ said Adams.
Andrew Chenard of Kingston and Conor Murtagh are leading the team with four goals and nine points each, while junior center back Nicholas Keddie of Abington “has played fantastic for us. He’s winning balls, is very aggressive and is a good leader,’’ said Adams of the Cardinal Spellman High graduate.
Facing Wheaton tonight will challenge the Bears, as they face a team that was ranked 17th in the nation before losing to Trinity last week. Coach Matt Cushing is one win away from reaching 300 in his career with the Lyons.
“They’re a fantastic team,’’ said Adams. “They have firepower up and down the lineup.’’
BSU has won two of the last four meetings with Wheaton after being 0-16 in the series.