Bears hang on to beat Gulls, 4-3

Box Score

BEVERLY, Mass. – Bridgewater State College received a hat-trick from freshman Simao Mendes (Brockton, Mass.) as the Bears downed Endicott College, 4-3, on Monday afternoon in Beverly, Mass. The Bears improve to 1-1 this season while the injury-riddled Gulls drop to 0-3. Endicott got a pair of first-career goals from \#Robbie DiTommaso\# (Farmington, Conn.) and \#Kevin Ivester\# (Topsfield, Mass.) in the defeat.

The first half was filled with fireworks as Endicott was the first team on the scoreboard when DiTommaso took a \#Colin Doody\# (Wethersfield, Conn.) feed inside the box and deposited it into the back of the net for an early 1-0 lead. The Bears responded nearly 10 minutes later as Mendes netted his first goal of the game to knot the game at 1-1. Endicott’s Ivester took the lead back for the Gulls with the first goal of his collegiate career on a pass from classmate \#Kevin Gnecco\# (North Hampton, N.H.).

Trailing 2-1, the Bears earned a free kick from near midfield and Pat Kenneally (Braintree, Mass.) found a slicing Matt Daniels (South Easton, Mass.) for a header inside the box to tie the game at two-all. The Bears would have their first chance at a lead on a 1-on-1 fastbreak between Mendes and Endicott’s keeper \#Daniel Higgins\# (Kingstown, R.I.) however Higgins made a spectacular one-handed diving save to keep the game tied at two. Unfortunately for the Gulls, a penalty in the box several minutes later would result in Mendes’ second goal of the game as the freshman put the penalty kick past Higgins for a 3-2 Bridgewater lead. Sloppy play would kill the Gulls shortly thereafter as Mendes forced a turnover at midfield and took it the distance, blasting a shot past Higgins and giving the Bears a comfortable 4-2 lead going into the break.

The second half was a defensive struggle as both teams battled for position. Endicott head coach \#Darren Murray\# decided to go to his bench for some fresh legs with less than 15 minutes to play and the move would result in a goal for the Gulls as \#Gregory Capece\# (Port Jefferson Station, N.Y.) took a through ball from \#Colin Doody\# to cut the deficit to one goal, 4-3. The Gulls would apply pressure in the final minutes but the Bridgewater defense held strong as the Bears earned their first win of the season.

The Gulls’ \#Daniel Higgins\# made five saves in the contest while facing 14 shots, including 13 in the first half. His counterpart, Bridgewater’s Ryan Seifert (Ludlow, Mass.), made a pair of saves in his first win of the season.

The Gulls continue their five-game home stand on Saturday as Endicott begins TCCC play with a 3:30 p.m. matchup against Regis College at Endicott Stadium. Bridgewater continues its three-game road swing against Mitchell College on Wednesday at 4:00 p.m.