Senior Dan Brady scored to give Westfield a 1-0 halftime lead at Bridgewater. (File photo by Mickey Curtis)
BRIDGEWATER – Senior forward Colin Neri (Upton, Mass.) scored the game-winning goal with just over a minute remaining in regulation to lift Bridgewater State University to a 2-1 victory over visiting Westfield State University in Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference men’s soccer action on Saturday afternoon, Sept. 28, at Swenson Field.
The host Bears even their overall record at 4-4 and remain unbeaten in MASCAC play with a 2-0 conference mark. The Owls slip to 2-7 on the season and 0-2 in the MASCAC. Bridgewater owns a 17-14-4 edge in the series since 1980.
Neri knocked in a cross from classmate Craig Shadduck (Braintree, Mass.) to break a 1-1 tie with 1:10 left on the clock. For Neri, it was his second goal and second game-winner of the season.
Westfield had taken a 1-0 first half lead on a Dan Brady (Wilbraham, Mass.) tally in the 30th minute. Sophomore defender Jack Fisher (Rehoboth, Mass.) assisted on the strike as he sent a long volley into the goal box off a restart that was misplayed by a BSU defender. The ball fell to the feet of Brady who ripped a shot into the center of the net for his first goal of the season.
Bridgewater tied the game up at 1-1 in the 52nd minute as senior David Wilson (Charlton, Mass.) scored from a tough angle off a cross from junior midfielder Josh Goehring (Haverhill, Mass.). Goehring sent a cross from the left side past the back post that Wilson corralled near the goal line. Wilson somehow managed to tuck a shot under the crossbar and inside the left post for his first goal of the season.
The Bears held a 15-5 shot advantage for the game as well as a 6-0 edge in corner kicks. Senior Matt Bagley (Braintree, Mass.) picked his fourth win of the season in between the pipes for the hosts. Senior netminder Kris Carrington (Agawam, Mass.) made four saves in the loss for the Owls.
In upcoming action, Bridgewater travels to UMass Boston on Tuesday afternoon for a non-conference game with the Beacons at 3:30. Westfield heads to Mass. Maritime Academy next Friday evening for a six o’clock MASCAC game with the Buccaneers.
