Bridgewater, MA --- The Bridgewater State University men's
soccer team remained unbeaten in conference play as the host Bears
blanked Worcester State University, 5-0, this afternoon at Swenson
Field.
Sophomore forward Matt Palatino (Ludlow, MA) scored twice for the
Bears who improve to 8-2 on the season and 3-0 in the Massachusetts
State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC). Worcester
State falls to 3-8 overall and 0-3 in the conference.
Bridgewater dominated play throughout, outshooting the Lancers by
a decisive margin of 20-2. The Bears however could not crack the
scoreboard in the opening half.
Bridgewater finally got on the board in the 52nd minute as
sophomore forward Simao Mendes (Brockton, MA) received the ball on
a cross from junior forward Jose DePina (Boston, MA) and ripped a
shot off the bottom of the cross bar and just over the goal
line.
Bridgewater continued to control play, and in the 69th minute
struck again. Sophomore midfielder Tucker Fairbanks (Plympton, MA)
made a wonderful pass between two defenders to Palatino who drilled
a shot inside the near post. Less than two minutes later Palatino
was at it again. Junior midfielder Dan Roberts (Braintree, MA)
started the play with a great run down the middle of the field.
Roberts sent a through ball to a streaking Palatino who beat the
Worcester keeper one-on-one.
In the 75th minute off a short corner, junior midfielder Donald
Flores (Cranston, RI) sent a cross that was sent back through the
box by junior forward Said Ekinci (Sakarya, Turkey). The ball came
to the feet of Fairbanks who found the back of the net with his
first goal of the season. Fifty-three seconds later, Flores sent
freshman forward Colin Neri (Upton, MA) in on a breakaway as Neri
chipped the ball over the charging Worcester goaltender from about
22 yards away.
Junior DJ Siewierski (Stow, MA) recorded his fourth shutout of the
season as he was forced to make just one save. Junior Evan
Wilga (Webster, MA) turned aside seven shots between
the pipes for the Lancers.
The Bears, who are 10-0-1 over their last 11 MASCAC regular season
matches, will travel to Salem State University next Saturday (1:00
PM) for a key conference game with the Vikings.
Worcester State heads to Western Connecticut State University on Wednesday night to take on the Colonials at 7:00 PM.