Men's Soccer Edges UMass Boston, 2-1

BRIDGEWATER, Mass. – Senior forward Steve McAvoy (Walpole, Mass.) and junior midfielder Charlie Lawson (Plympton, Mass.) each scored to lead the Bridgewater State University men's soccer team to a 2-1 non-conference victory over visiting UMass Boston on Tuesday afternoon at Swenson Field.

The host Bears even their 2014 record at 4-4 with the win, while the Beacons fall to 6-4.  Bridgewater is now 6-6 all-time versus UMass and have won each of the last three meetings.

McAvoy got the Bears on the board in the 17th minute with his first goal of the season.  Off a restart, sophomore midfielder Jonathan Pires (Medford, Mass.) sent a long volley into the box which deflected off of junior forward Conor Murtagh (Walpole, Mass.) to an open McAvoy in front of the net,  McAvoy turned and beat the UMB keeper with a shot inside the left post.  Both Pires and Lawson picked up assists on the tally.

The Bears would head to the intermission with a 1-0 lead.

UMass tied it exactly nine minutes into the second half on a goal by senior forward Rolando Barbosa (Fogo, Cape Verde).  Sophomore midfielder Paul Erne (San Diego, CA) set up the marker with a pass from the middle to a streaking Barbosa on the right side.  Barbosa rifled a shot inside the right post for his fourth goal of the season.

The Bears reclaimed the lead less than three minutes later as Lawson knocked home the rebound of an Andrew Chenard (Kingston, Mass.) shot. Chenard's initial scoring attempt was set up by a crossing pass off the foot Murtagh.  For Lawson, the goal marked his first of the season.

UMass held a 10-5 shot advantage for the game as well as a slight 3-2 edge in corner kicks.  The Bears took advantage of their limited scoring opportunities scoring on two of their five shots.

BSU sophomore netminder Colin Jepson (Sandwich, Mass.) picked up the win between the pipes as he turned aside four shots.  Junior goaltender Alfonso Rosales (Revere, Mass.) made just one save for the Beacons.

The Bears are home again on Saturday when they host MASCAC rival Worcester State University at noon.  The Beacons travel to Eastern Connecticut State University on Saturday afternoon for a one o'clock Little East Conference game with the Warriors.