BRIDGEWATER, Mass. – Junior forward Filipe Gomes (Fogo, Cape Verde) tallied the game-winning goal with just six seconds remaining in regulation to lift the Bridgewater State University men's soccer team to a dramatic 2-1 Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) victory over visiting Massachusetts Maritime Academy on Saturday afternoon at Swenson Field.
The Bears improve to 5-8-3 on the season and 2-3-1 in the MASCAC with their third straight win, while the Buccaneers fall to 5-9-1 overall and 3-3 in conference play.
With the score tied at 1-1 and with time winding down, Gomes made a long run from midfield and ripped a shot from 25 yards out inside the right post. The goal marked his team-leading seventh of the season.
Sophomore forward Justin Borges (Milford, Mass.) got the Bears on the board in the 32nd minute with his first goal of the season. Borges scored on a header inside the right post off a crossing pass from Gomes.
The Buccaneers knotted the score at 1-1 late in the first half on a header goal by sophomore midfielder Adam Crawford (Kington, Mass.). Off a restart, senior defender Mick Rouette (Three Rivers, Mass.) sent a long volley into the box that Crawford headed past the BSU netminder with just 27 seconds remaining.
Gomes had two breakaway opportunities in the second half but was unable to capitalize. He slid a shot wide of the far post coming down the right side just 83 seconds into the stanza, and sailed a shot over the crossbar in the 81st minute off a nice setup by junior midfielder Kessy Alves (Brockton, Mass.). Gomes also had a rebound goal called back on an offside call in the 82nd minute
BSU sophomore netminder Nate Morgado (Dartmouth, Mass.) turned aside six shots to record his fifth win of the seasons. Senior goalkeeper Mike Pruchnik (Rochester, Mass.) made six saves in the setback for the Buccaneers. He courageously turned aside a rocket shot by Alves from close range in the 66th minute.
Bridgewater held a 21-18 shot advantage as well as a 6-4 edge in corner kicks.
With his three points on the afternoon, Gomes increased his career total to 57 as he is tied for ninth among the Bears' all-time scoring leaders along with former standout Dan Riley (1992-95).
The Bears host non-conference rival Babson College on Tuesday night at seven, while the Buccaneers travel to Dean College on Monday afternoon for a 3:30 game with the Bulldogs.