Men's Soccer Posts 2-1 Win over UMass Boston

BRIDGEWATER, Mass. – The Bridgewater State University men's soccer team edged visiting UMass Boston on late Saturday afternoon at Swenson Field.

The host Bears improve to 2-0 on the season while the Beacons fall to 0-2. Bridgewater also evened the all-time series (since 1980) at 8-8.

Sophomore forward Kevin Roberts (Medway, Mass.) tallied a goal and an assist to lead the Bears, while junior goalkeeper Nate Morgado (Dartmouth, Mass.) made four saves including three key stops.

Bridgewater scored a pair of goals just 56 seconds apart midway through the first half to jump out to the lead.

Roberts potted his first goal of the season in the 24th minute with senior midfielders Kessy Alves (Brockton, Mass.) and Kane Moran (Perth, Australia) picking up the assists. After a win in the air, Moran headed the ball over to Alves stationed just outside the box. Alves then snuck a short thru-ball between two defenders to Roberts who beat the UMass keeper with a shot inside the left post.

Less than a minute later, freshman midfielder Odair Monteiro (Fogo, Cape Verde) notched his first collegiate goal to make it a 2-0 game. Roberts picked up the secondary assist as he sent a cross into the box to freshman midfielder Robson Montrond (Brockton, Mass.) who redirected the cross to an open Monteiro on the left side. Monteiro buried a shot inside the right post from 13 yards out.

A brilliant diving save by Morgado off a blistering shot by senior defender Eric Murakami (Sao Paolo, Brazil) with five minutes to go in the opening period kept the Bears' lead at two. The Beacons also had a goal called back due to an offside call earlier in the period.

UMass broke through on a goal by freshman midfielder Christopher Garcia (Wakefield, Mass.) with just 3:05 remaining in the first half. Sophomore midfielders Mauricio Martinez (Cali, Columbia) and Estevao Gomes (Fogo, Cape Verde) assisted on the marker. Garcia received a pass from Gomes just inside the box on the right side and flicked a long shot over the outstretched hand of Morgado that suck inside the left post.

A bad turnover by Morgado nearly led to a UMass goal in the 62nd minute, but Morgado recovered by making a diving stop off a point-blank range shot by freshman midfielder Nelson Cardoso (Sao Vicente, Cape Verde). Morgado also made a terrific save off a header shot from senior forward Gui Barbosa (Saugus, Mass.) from inside the six.

UMass finished with a 20-10 shot advantage, while corner kicks were even at four apiece.

Junior netminder Omar Castro-Dreher (Woonsocket, R.I.) made one save in the setback for the Beacons.

In upcoming action, the Bears travel to Salve Regina University on Wednesday afternoon for a 3:30 game with the Seahawks. The Beacons head to Tufts University on Tuesday night to take on the Jumbos at seven.