BRIDGEWATER, Mass. – The Bridgewater State University men's soccer team netted a pair of first-half goals and hung on for a 2-1 victory over visiting Emmanuel College on Friday afternoon at Swenson Field.
The host Bears improve to 3-1 on the season, while the visiting Saints fall to 1-2.
Freshman midfielder Oliver Peluso Nora (Toms River, N.J.) opened the scoring with his first collegiate goal in the 18th minute. Freshman midfielder Odair Monteiro (Fogo, Cape Verde) lofted a pass over the Emmanuel defense into the left side of the 18 and onto the foot of sophomore forward Kevin Roberts (Medway, Mass.). Roberts slipped a crossing pass over to Peluso Nora who tucked a shot from eight yards out under the crossbar and inside the right post.
A header goal by Roberts off an assist from junior defender Zachary Ells (Douglas, Mass.) on a restart in the 39th minute staked the Bears to a 2-0 lead. Ells sent the free kick into the box from 40 yards out and Roberts redirected the ball inside the left post for his second marker of the 2018 campaign.
The Saints cut the deficit to 2-1 in the 51st minute as freshman forward Robert Danielian (Watertown, Mass.) potted his first collegiate goal on a shot nearly identical to the goal scored by Peluso Nora. Freshman midfielder Erik Gustafson (Ipswich, Mass.) notched the assist as he picked up a loose ball that was mishandled by a BSU defender and slipped a thru-ball to Danielian inside the 18.
Roberts and Monteiro had quality scoring opportunities for the Bears in the 54th and 62nd minutes, respectively, but both their shots skipped wide of the right post.
The Bears finished with a 26-3 shot advantage for the game as well as a 9-6 edge in corner kick attempts. The Saints' only shot on frame was the goal by Danielian.
Junior netminder Nate Morgado (Dartmouth, Mass.) recorded his third win of the season between the pipes for Bridgewater State. Junior Jonathan Ferrarini (Hanover, Mass.) turned aside eight shots in the setback for Emmanuel.
In upcoming action, the Bears entertain Rhode Island College on Wednesday night at seven while the Saints host Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) rival Regis College on Tuesday night at seven.