BRIDGEWATER, Mass. – The Bridgewater State University men's soccer team opened the 2018 season with a 3-1 victory over visiting Western New England University on Friday evening at Swenson Field.
Sophomore forward Loubensky Lucas (Stoughton, Mass.), junior defender Tim Alzamora (Holden, Mass.) and freshman midfielder Robson Montrond (Brockton, Mass.) all scored their first collegiate goals for the Bears (1-0).
The visiting Golden Bears (0-1) actually got on the board first as senior midfielder Nick Liccardi (Hopewell Junction, N.Y.) one-timed a shot from ten yards out in the eighth minute off a short pass to the middle from junior forward Corey Brown (Somers, Conn.). Brown created the opportunity after beating a defender on the wing outside the 18.
Lucas evened the score at 1-1 in the 51st minute on a header goal from just beyond the goal line. The scoring strike came off a restart as junior defender Zachary Ells (Douglas, Mass.) sent the ball into the box from 40 yards out. Alzamora and junior defender Josh Mitchell (Stoughton, Mass.) both picked up header assists as they won the battle in the air.
Alzamora headed home a corner kick sent into the box by Ells in the 76th minute to give the Bears the 2-1 lead.
Montrond extended the Bears' lead to a 3-1 in the 81st minute as he buried a shot into a wide open net off a cross from Ells. The Western New England keeper misplayed the cross and Montrond hopped on the loose ball and calmly deposited the shot into the right side of the net.
Western New England finished with a slight edge in both shots (14-13) and corner kicks (7-5).
BSU junior netminder Nate Morgado (Dartmouth, Mass.) picked up the win between the pipes as he recorded a pair of saves. Senior Sam Brewer (Westford, Mass.) made four saves in the setback for the visitors.
In upcoming action, the Bears entertain UMass Boston on Saturday afternoon at five. The Golden Bears travel to MCLA on Sunday afternoon for a one o'clock game with the Trailblazers.