BRIDGEWATER, Mass. – The visiting Johnson & Wales University men's soccer team opened the 2022 campaign with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Bridgewater State University on Thursday afternoon at Swenson Field.
JWU now holds a 5-4 lead in the all-time series as the Wildcats have won each of the last three meetings.
Sophomore midfielder Conner Elliott (Mansfield, Mass.) got the visiting Wildcats on the board in the 15th minute of play. Elliott won a contested ball in the attacking zone, dribbled in and fired a shot inside the left post from 21 yards out.
The Bears knotted the score at 1-1 in the 24th minute as senior forward Robson Montrond (Brockton, Mass.) drew and converted a penalty kick. The goal marked the 13th of Montrond's career.
Sophomore midfielder Ethan Lafontant (Chelmsford, Mass.) nearly gave the Bears the lead in the 55th minute as he sent a long volley towards the net. JWU senior netminder Jacob Friedman (Woodland Hills, Calif.) made a leaping stop as he knocked the ball off the crossbar and then corralled the rebound.
Elliott came within inches of reclaiming the lead for the Wildcats as he rang one off the crossbar in the 59th minute.
The game remained tied until the 71st minute. A long-range shot by senior midfielder Alexander Pane (Danbury, Conn.) caromed off a Bridgewater defender and directly to freshman forward Carlos Andrade (Cranston, R.I.) who headed the ball into the left side of the net. The goal marked the first collegiate marker for the Wildcat rookie.
The Bears had two quality scoring chances in the waning minutes of the contest but were unable to pot the equalizer. Junior forward Will Halben (Attleboro, Mass.) was stopped on a close-range shot following a nice crossing pass from freshman midfielder Gavin Norton (Rockland, Mass.). Halben then flicked a shot that sailed well wide of the net off a nice feed from Norton with under ten seconds showing on the scoreboard.
JWU held a decided 20-9 shot advantage for the game as well as a 7-0 edge in corner kick attempts.
Friedman made five saves to record his first win of the season, while BSU senior goalkeeper William Russell (Sandwich, Mass.) turned aside eight shots in the setback for the Bears.
The Bears (0-1) are off until next Monday (Sept. 5) when they travel to Wheaton College for a five o'clock game with the Lyons. The Wildcats (1-0) entertain Salve Regina University on Sunday (Sept. 4) afternoon at one.