PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- The Rhode Island College men's soccer team earned its first win of the season with a hard fought 2-1 victory over visiting Bridgewater State University on Wednesday afternoon at Alumni Field.
The host Anchormen improve to 1-3-1 on the season, while the Bears fall to 1-3.
The two teams battled through a scoreless first half with both teams narrowly missing scoring chances. Bridgewater State held a 9-4 advantage in shots for the first half.
Bridgewater State broke the scoreless tie in the 49th minute when freshman forward Kevin Roberts (Medway, Mass.) started a breakaway down the right side of the field and fed a pass to junior forward Filipe Gomes (Fogo, Cape Verde). Gomes slipped a shot into the back of the net from ten yards out for his second goal of the season.
RIC answered less than a minute later when senior forward Komla Dogbey (Providence, R.I.) played a pass to the top of the box to junior midfielder Dennis Vazquez (Providence, R.I.). Vazquez then slid a shot just inside the near post to knot the game at 1-1. It was Vazquez's second marker of the season.
The Anchormen had a throw in from senior midfielder Ty Catunto (New Bedford, Mass.) in the 53rd minute. After the pass deflected off a BSU defender, RIC senior defender Elimane Seye (Providence, R.I.) headed in a shot from five yards out for his first of the season.
RIC freshman Charlie Tashjian (West Warwick, R.I.) turned aside seven shots to record his first collegiate win, while BSU sophomore Nate Morgado (Dartmouth, Mass.) made four saves in the setback.
Bridgewater State notched a 15-12 advantage in shots and held a 4-1 margin in corner kicks for the contest.
Both teams open conference play on Saturday. The Bears travel to Salem State University for a five o'clock Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) game with the Vikings, while the Anchormen head to Little East Conference (LEC) rival Eastern Connecticut State University to take on the Warriors at noon.