GORHAM, Maine -- The Bridgewater State University wrestling team opened the 2022-2023 season with a 28-16 setback to the University of Southern Maine on Saturday afternoon at Hill Gymnasium.

The Bears (0-1) entered the match ranked 15th in the New England Wrestling Association (NEWA) Preseason Team Tournament Rankings, while the Huskies (1-0) were ranked fifth.

Bridgewater won four of the first seven bouts as the match was knotted at 16-16 following a pin (3:33) by BSU freshman 174-pounder Vincent Player (Duxbury, Mass.) in his collegiate debut. Senior Wilson Gomes (Fogo, Cape Verde) moved up a weight class to 133 and edged junior Ethan Frost (North Andover, Mass.), 6-5. Frost entered the match ranked fourth in the NEWA Individual Rankings for the 133-pound weight class, while Gomes is ranked fifth at 125.

The Bears also received a 13-5 major decision by freshman Jonathan Davila (Andover, Mass.) at 149 and a 9-3 decision by sophomore Michael Hopkins (Swampscott, Mass.) at 165. Davila was also making his collegiate debut.

Sophomore Timothy Smalle (Victorville, Calif.) earned a 3-0 decision in the 184-pound weight class to give Southern Maine a 19-16 lead. Junior Nick Beebe (Brentwood, N.H.) then clinched the match for the Huskies with a win by fall (3:39) at 197. Graduate student Jake Peavey (South China, Maine) capped off the 28-16 USM victory with a 6-1 decision in the battle of the heavyweights. Peavey is the top ranked heavyweight in New England.

The BSU wrestling team is back in action next Saturday as the Bears will compete at the Roger Williams Invitational.