BRIDGEWATER, Mass. – Senior forward Robson Montrond (Brockton, Mass.) tallied two goals and a pair of assists to lead the Bridgewater State University men's soccer team to a 5-1 victory over visiting Eastern Nazarene College on Tuesday afternoon at Swenson Field.
The Bears improve to 1-2-1 with their first win of the 2022 season, while the Lions fall to 1-3-1. The Bears are now 8-4 all-time versus ENC.
Senior forward Bryan Vargas (San Jose, Costa Rica) converted a penalty kick in the 17th minute to stake the visitors to a 1-0 lead.
BSU sophomore defender Jack O'Toole (Wilbraham, Mass.) scored off a restart in the in the 26th minute to knot the game at 1-1. Senior midfielder Joseph Madden Jr. (Milford, Mass.) assisted on O'Toole's first collegiate marker. Madden Jr. crossed the restart inside the six and O'Toole buried a one-timer into the back of the net.
Montrond gave the Bears a 2-1 lead in the 31st minute as he headed home a long throw-in from Madden Jr.. Bridgewater would take the one-goal advantage into the break.
After the Bears had a goal called back due to an offside early in the second half, Montrond potted his second goal of the game and team-leading third of the season in the 69th minute. Freshman midfielder Colin Evans (East Longmeadow, Mass.) assisted on the marker as he dribbled towards the corner, turned and passed the ball back to Montrond who ripped a one-timer past the ENC netminder.
Junior forward David Nelson (East Bridgewater, Mass.) made it a 4-1 game with his first of the season in the 74th minute with Montrond collecting the assist. Nelson, who got the play started with a defensive steal, buried a shot from six yards out off a nice setup by Montrond.
Freshman midfielder Filippo Mucci (Vineyard Haven, Mass.) capped off the scoring for the Bears just 27 seconds later with his first collegiate goal. Montrond rang the initial shot off the post and Mucci knocked home the rebound.
The Bears held a 22-20 shot advantage for the game, while the Lions finished with a 12-4 edge in corner kick attempts.
BSU senior netminder William Russell (Sandwich, Mass.) made eight saves in 78-plus minutes of action to record his first win of the season. Sophomore goalkeeper Aidan Lindmark (Norfolk, Mass.) played the final 11:15 in relief of Russell and turned aside a pair of shots.
Junior keepers Erik Berg (Hadley, Mass.) and Antonio Soto Valente (Maracaibo, Venezuela) split the game between the pipes for the Lions and combined to make six saves.
In upcoming action, the Bears open Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) play on Saturday morning when they welcome defending MASCAC champion Salem State University to Swenson Field. The game is slated to get underway at 11:00 AM. The Lions are off until Saturday, September 24th when they travel to Brandeis University for a one o'clock game with the Judges.