Men's Soccer Falls to Plymouth State, 2-1

PLYMOUTH, N.H. – A header by senior Matt Anderson (Shaker Heights, Ohio) early in the second half proved to be the difference Friday afternoon as Plymouth State University edged Bridgewater State University, 2-1, in a non-conference men's soccer match at Panther Field.

Anderson was in right place at the right time, as a loose ball came to him inside the box about five yards from the goal following a corner kick.  He knocked the ball toward to goal with a header and the ball made its way into the upper right side of the net.  That broke a 1-1 deadlock and wound up as the game-winner as PSU evened its record at 2-2 and BSU fell to 0-3.

The Bears got on the scoreboard first in the 12th minute when senior Braima Samati (Boston, Mass.) took a touch pass from classmate Adam Smith (Kingston, Mass.) and fired a hard shot that ricocheted off a Panther defender and into the back of the goal. The lead lasted about five minutes until PSU freshman Petro Masumbuko (Manchester, N.H./Central) blasted a shot from the top of the box at the other end of the field into the top right corner, evening the match in the 17th minute of play.

The game stayed tied until Anderson's goal in the fourth minute of the second half.  The Panthers had a chance to extend their lead with 12 minutes remaining but BSU junior keeper Matt Bagley (Braintree, Mass.) made a point-blank-range save on PSU sophomore Joss Knol (Wellington, New Zealand), and Knol's second attempt sailed over the crossbar.

BSU applied strong pressure on the Panther defensive zone the final 10 minutes of the game.  The Bears' best chance came with three minutes remaining when a shot by senior Simao Mendes (Brockton, Mass.) hit the cross bar and BSU was ruled offside on the play.

PSU senior keeper Bjorn Ohlsson (Halmstad, Sweden) recorded the victory, making six second-half saves.  Bagley finished with two saves for BSU.

Plymouth State is back in action Tuesday with a visit to Tufts University.  Bridgewater State plays its home opener Sunday against Amherst College (3:00 p.m.).