BOSTON, Mass. -- Freshman forward Guilherme Silva (Malden, Mass.) scored in the 79th minute to lift the Emmanual College men's soccer team to a 1-0 victory over visiting Bridgewater State University on Wednesday night at Clemente Field.

The Saints improve to 4-8-1 on the season with the win while the Bears fall to 6-2-4. The two teams were meeting for the first time since 2019. Bridgewater was ranked fourth in the most recent United Soccer Coaches (USC) Division III Region Two Poll.

Thanks to the outstanding goaltending of Maddox Pierce (Meriden, Conn.), Emmanuel pulled out the win despite being significantly outshot and not attempting a corner kick. Bridgewater took all five corner kicks in the game and held a 21-7 shot advantage but could not get one past the sophomore netminder.

Pierce finished with 14 saves on the evening with nine of those coming in the second half. The impressive performance included a penalty kick stop in the 76th minute to keep the game scoreless. Silva would find the back of the net less than three minutes later off an assist from sophomore midfielder Joe Anderson (Tampa, Fla.). 

Graduate goaltender William Russell (Sandwich, Mass.) made two saves in the setback for Bridgewater State.

Both teams are back in action on Saturday afternoon. The Bears entertain Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) rival Massachusetts Maritime Academy at one o'clock while the Saints host Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) foe Anna Maria College at noon.