Men's Soccer Falls to Salve Regina, 1-0

BRIDGEWATER, Mass. -- The visiting Salve Regina University men's soccer team edged Bridgewater State University, 1-0, on Monday afternoon at Swenson Field in the completion of a suspended game.

The Seahawks improve to 6-2-4 on the season, while the Bears fall to 2-7-2. Salve has won four of the last five meetings of the two teams, while Bridgewater maintains a 9-5-1 advantage in the series dating back to 1980.

Salve led 1-0 with 40:54 remaining in the second half when the game was stopped due to lightning last Wednesday (Oct. 5).

A turnover by the Bears led to the opening goal of the game. Junior forward Nick Diamond (Oxford, Mass.) intercepted an errant pass and the ball caromed to sophomore forward Kendy Prince (Medford, Mass.) who dribbled in and fired a shot from just inside the 18, past the backpedaling BSU goaltender, and into the right side of the cage.

The Seahawks nearly capitalized on a defensive miscue earlier in the contest. A shot from the right side by Prince, with the goalie out of position, went wide of the net.

After the game resumed on Monday, the Bears had a few solid opportunities to tie it up the game but could not capitalize. In the 64th minute, sophomore forward Ethan Lafontant's (Chelmsford, Mass.) one-timer off a perfectly executed crossing pass from junior forward David Nelson (East Bridgewater, Mass.) sailed over the cage. Sophomore forward Brett Ghelfi's (Halifax, Mass.) free kick from three yards outside the 18 in the 76th minute also sailed over the net. Junior midfielder Ethan DeMello (Acushnet, Mass.) ripped a shot just over the crossbar from 23 yards out in the 82nd minute.

Bridgewater finished with a 12-11 shot advantage for the game as well as a 4-2 edge in corner kick attempts.

Salve senior goalkeeper Nathan Reid (Magnolia, Dela.) turned aside five shots, three in the second half, to record his fourth win and fourth shutout of the season. Senior netminder William Russell (Sandwich, Mass.) made five saves in the setback for the Bears.

In upcoming action, the Bears host Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) rival Westfield State University on Saturday afternoon at 12:30. The Seahawks head to Western New England University on Wednesday afternoon for a three o'clock Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) matchup with the Golden Bears.