WESTFIELD, Mass. -- Junior midfielder Kessy Alves (Brockton, Mass.) tallied two goals and two assists to lead the Bridgewater State University men's soccer team to a convincing 5-1 victory over Westfield State University in a Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) matchup on Saturday at Alumni Field.
The Owls are now 5-8 on the season and 2-3 in the MASCAC while the Bears improve to 3-8-3 overall and 1-3-1 in conference play.
Bridgewater State first got on board in the tenth minute of play as a pass was fed from the left side to junior midfielder Kane Moran (Perth, Australia) near the top of the penalty area on the right side. Moran fired a low hard shot that powered through the outstretched hands of Owls' senior goalkeeper Alex Kraver (West Springfield, Mass.).
The visitor's captured a 2-0 lead just seconds later as junior forward Filipe Gomes (Fogo, Cape Verde) dribbled to the left post and fed the ball back to Alves at the top of the six-yard box. Alves buried a shot inside the far post with the outside of his right foot.
Westfield State responded in the 36th minute of play, as senior Cam Ritter (Feeding Hills, Mass.) sent a bullet into the lower right corner of the net after a free kick was awarded to the Owls after a handball.
Bridgewater State sophomore forward Ronaldo Powell (Nantucket, Mass.) answered just minutes later as he blasted a shot from just outside the top of the 18 to increase the BSU lead to 3-1.
The Bears went on to score twice more, with Alves scoring his second goal in the 55th minute with freshman forward Kevin Roberts (Medway, Mass.) and Gomes picking up assists. Sophomorre midfielder Eber Moreno (Fogo, Cape Verde) found the back of the net at 74:14 after an assist from Alves to clinch the 5-1 victory over the Owls.
Powell and Moreno notched their first goals in a BSU uniform. Moran's marker was his first of the 2017 season.
The Bears held a 17-12 edge in shots on goal.
Kraver played in goal for Westfield State and made five saves while allowing five goals in net. BSU sophomore Nate Morgado (Dartmouth, Mass.) started in net for the Bears, making three saves. Junior Colin Golden (Mansfield, Mass.) played the final seven minutes in goal for Bridgewater and made one save.
Westfield State will host Rhode Island College on Wednesday night at seven, while Bridgewtaer State entertains UMass Dartmouth on Tuesday night at seven.
Bridgewater State will host the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth on October 17th in a non-conference match at 7:00 p.m.