Men's Soccer Posts 5-1 Senior Day Win Over RIC

By Jim Fenton

BRIDGEWATER, Mass. -- The Bridgewater State University men's soccer team closed out the non-conference portion of the schedule with a win at home.

The Bears scored four straight goals during a 5-1 victory over Rhode Island College on Senior Day at Mazzaferro Field Tuesday afternoon.

BSU (9-5-2) closes out the regular season on Friday night, hosting the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts at 7 p.m. The Bears play their first Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference tournament game at home on Friday, Nov. 8.

Junior Gavin Norton (Rockland, Mass.), senior Dominek Borden (New Bedford, Mass.) and sophomore Hector Bucio (Easton, Mass.) each had a goal and an assist for BSU. Sophomore Nicholas Ribeiro (Bellingham, Mass.) assisted on two goals.

The Bears were behind, 1-0, in the opening minutes before tying the game late in the first half. They added three goals in a span of 5:02 in the second half, including a pair in just 22 seconds, and outscored the Anchormen, 4-0, after the break.

Prior to the game, nine players were honored on the field in Senior Day festivities.

They include goalkeepers Daniel Beverage (Wallingford, Conn.) and Lukas Ekmanis (Baxter, Tenn.), midfielders Carsten Boloz (Southborough, Mass.), Ethan DeMelo (Acushnet, Mass.) and Nicolas Matias (Framingham, Mass.), backs Jack O'Toole (Wilbraham, Mass.), Jacob Ramos (New Bedford, Mass.) and Justin Silva (North Attleboro, Mass.) plus back/midfielder Jacob Silvestre (Seekonk, Mass.).

RIC (10-5-1) took a 1-0 lead just 4:21 into the game on a goal by senior Wilson Penafiel (Providence, R.I.), his first of the season, assisted by sophomore Alijah Nunes (Diego, Martin Trinidad and Tobago).

Nunes gave Penafield a short touch pass, and he converted from about 22 yards out into the top right corner.

BSU tied it at 1-1 at 41:13 when Norton scored from Ribeiro and Silva.

Off a Ribeiro corner kick, Norton beat Anchormen sophomore goalkeeper Elhadji Ndoye (Cranston, R.I.) to the ball and tapped a shot in after a Bucio header attempt was sent near the net.

The Bears took their first lead at 59:40 when Bucio, who had two header goals called back due to offside, found then back of the net, assisted by Norton.

Following a restart near midfield, Norton ran down the right side and sent a crossing pass to Bucio at the top of the six. A shot by Bucio went inside the right post.

Borden made it 3-1 at 64:20 with Ribeiro and Buccio getting the assists.

A pass from Bucio sent Borden in on a breakaway and he beat the keeper one-on-one with a shot inside the left post.

Just 22 seconds later, junior Filippo Mucci (Vineyard Haven, Mass.) upped the lead to 4-1 with his fifth goal of the season, Borden getting the assist at 64:42.

A slide tackle by Borden near midfield got the play going. He then dribbled down the left side and sent a cross into the 18 and onto the foot of Mucci, who scored on a one-timer into the top left corner of the net.

DeMelo scored his first goal at 77:23 to cap the scoring. RIC was whistled for a hand ball inside the 18 and DeMelo converted the penalty kick attempt.

BSU had a pair of header goals by Bucio called back during the second half.

Ekmanis made two saves while playing the first 77:23 and Beverage finished the game in goal for the Bears.

Ekmanis made a terrific leaping and diving stop in the 64th minute after the Bears had made it 2-1. He turned aside a shot by senior Cameron Chalue-Feeney (Barrington, R.I.) that was labeled for the top-right corner of the net.

Ndoye had four saves for the Anchormen, who lost their second road game in six tries this season. BSU improved to 4-4-1 at Mazzaferro Field.

Norton now leads BSU with 16 points and is tied for the team lead with five goals and six assists.

Mucci also has five goals while Ribeiro and Borden have six assists apiece.

RIC finishes the regular season on Saturday afternoon, traveling to Western Connecticut State. The teams are tied for first place in the Little East at 6-1.