BRIDGEWATER, Mass. – Senior forward Conor Murtagh (Walpole, Mass.) talled a goal and an assist, and senior midfielder Kolin Campbell (Norton, Mass.) potted the the game-winner, to lift the Bridgewater State University men's soccer team to a 2-1 Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference victory over visiting Massachusetts Maritime Academy on Saturday afternoon at Swenson Field.
The Bears improve to 7-1 on the season and 2-0 in the MASCAC, while the Buccaneers slip to 3-4 overall and 1-1 in conference play.
Bridgewater took advantage of a Buccaneer failed clearance ten minutes into the contest to take an early 1-0 lead. Senior defender Justin Kachadoorian (Leicester, Mass.) picked off a pass on the left side and served a cross into the 18. Senior forward Conor Murtagh (Walpole, Mass.) outjumped the defense and sent a header into the left side of the net for his team-leading sixth goal of the season.
Just 35 seconds later, Murtagh nearly beat the Maritime keeper with a shot labeled for inside the inside the left post from 25-yards out. However, junior Joe Cohen (Plymouth, Mass) was able to make the diving save, pinning the ball against the post.
The Buccaneers potted the equalizer in the 19th minute as freshman midfielder Brendan Gawron (Braintree, Mass.) converted a long throw-in from junior defender Scott Matoian (Mashpee, Mass.). Stationed at the right side of the net, Gawron flicked a header inside the far post for his first collegiate goal.
Cohen made a brilliant diving stop on a header from Chenard which was destined for the right side of the net in the 20th minute. He also stopped Murtagh on a semi-breakaway in the 26th minute as the game remained knotted at a goal apiece heading into the break.
Campbell broke the 1-1 tie in the 56th minute with his first goal of the season. Senior midfielder Sawyer Fleck (Foxboro, Mass) set up the goal with a serve into the box from 35 yards out. Murtagh was first to the ball and headed it toward the left post to an oncoming Campbell who headed it into the open left side.
Both teams had quality scoring chances the rest of the way.
BSU junior goaltender Colin Jepson (Sandwich, Mass.) made a leaping stop on a shot from junior forward Thomas McCarthy (Tybee Island, Georgia) in the 67th minute. Less than a minute later, MMA sophomore midfielder Chris Beaulieu (Carver, Mass.) ripped a shot wide from 30 yards out.
Chenard sent a header over the crossbar on a restart off a cross from freshman forward Filipe Gomes (Boston, Mass.) in the 71st minute. Gomes also set up junior forward Colby LeSage (Maynard, Mass.) for a great chance in the 75th minute but LeSage's shot slid wide of the right post.
Cohen kept it a one-goal game in the 78th minute as he made a diving fingertip save on a Gomes' shot that was headed for inside the right post.
Jepson, perhaps, made his biggest save of the afternoon with 4:25 remaining in the contest as she knocked a shot by junior defender Matthew McDonough (Framingham, Mass.) over the crossbar off a restart.
Jepson finished with four saves to record his seventh win of the season, while Cohen turned aside seven shots in the setback for the Buccaneers.
The Bears held a 21-8 shot advantage as well as a slight 5-4 edge in corner kicks.
Both teams are back in action on Wednesday. The Bears entertain the Beacons of UMass Boston at seven, while the Buccaneers travel to Salve Regina University for a 3:30 game with the Seahawks.