Men's Tennis Posts 7-0 Little East Win Over Western Connecticut

By Jim Fenton

DANBURY, Conn. -- The Bridgewater State University men's tennis team won its third straight match on Saturday afternoon.

The Bears (5-4) improved to 2-0 in the Little East Conference with a 7-0 victory over Western Connecticut State University at the Westside Tennis Courts.

BSU recorded its first road win of the season, moving to 1-2, while the Wolves fell to 3-9 and 1-2 in the Little East.

Head Coach Dave Purpura, now in his tenth season, tied former Bears' skipper and BSU Hall of Famer Barry Gorman as the program's all-time winningest coach. Purpura is 47-58 (.448) since taking the reins of the men's program in 2017. Gorman guided the Bears to 47 wins from 2009 to 2013 before moving on to Roger Williams University.

The Bears began the day by winning two of three doubles matches.

Senior Adam Beatrice (Rockland, Mass.) and junior Khiem Nguyen (Burlington, Vt.) won over Jose Zambrano and Jack Buck, 6-1, at No. 1 doubles.

Freshman Will Horton (Lakeville, Mass.) and senior Ryan Hebert (Taunton, Mass.) won by a 6-4 score over Aidan Burke and John Araujo at No. 2.

Western Connecticut State was a 6-3 winner at No. 3 doubles over junior Tom Ayson (Plymouth, Mass.) and junior Anthony Lucas (Weymouth, Mass.).

Horton prevailed at No. 1 singles over Burke, 6-0, 6-4, and Beatrice won at No. 2 over Zambrano, 6-1, 6-2.

Nguyen defeated Buck at No. 3, 6-3, 6-0, while Ayson was the winner at No. 4 over Alex Maldonado, 4-6, 6-3, 10-8.

Lucas scored a 6-1, 6-3 win over Araujo at No. 5 while Herbert defeated Axel Javier at No. 6, 6-0, 6-2.

BSU will be on the road again Wednesday, traveling to Salem State for a 3 p.m. match.

Western Connecticut State is at Rhode Island College Wednesday at 3:30 p.m.