NEW LONDON, Conn. — 

The U.S. Coast Guard Academy men's soccer team was defeated by non-conference visitors Bridgewater State University, 1-0, on Saturday in the Bears' Senior Day game. The visitors broke the scoreless tie in the 65th minute, and Coast Guard was unable to equalize.

Coast Guard moves to 7-4-3 on the season, while Bridgewater improves to 9-5-1 overall. The red Bears get a week off before traveling to Fitchburg State University (4-7-3) on October 25th for Massachusetts State College Athletic Conference (MASCAC) action. Bridgewater is 4-1-1 in the conference, while the Falcons currently sit at 1-3-2.

Prior to kick-off, Coast Guard celebrated its four senior cadet-athletes: Aki Freeman (San Diego, Calif.), Aidan Miles (Tampa, Fla.), Jack Putnam (Halfmoon, N.Y.), and Alex Thissell (Ashburn, Va.). Each player was joined on the field by their family as they were honored for their contributions to the Academy men's soccer program during their four years in New London.

Bridgewater broke the stalemate after Ansley Glemaud chipped a cross into the box, where Connor Wesloski was able to connect his head with the ball and redirect it into the bottom left corner. Coast Guard had chances throughout the match, but were either stopped by solid defense from the visiting side or unable to capitalize.

Nick Yorgason (Pleasant View, Utah) led the hosts with four shots on goal, followed by Cole Miller (Annapolis, Md.) and Andres Villasana (Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.) with two each. The Bears had 13 total shots but just three on target. One of them, attempted by Miller in the ninth minute, was stopped from going through the bottom center by a well-placed Bridgewater defender. Villasana had a great chance on an 85th-minute rocket, his team's last try of the game, but bounced it off of the top woodwork.

Bridgwater had similar luck, amassing 14 shots but tallying just four on goal. Melvin Alves led the red team with five attempts, and Glemaud was right behind with four. Coast Guard outdid their guests on the corners, winning eight to Bridgewater's five, and both teams were whistled for five fouls each. Putnam made three saves, while Bridgewater goalie Kyle Sullivan stopped two.

Bears men's soccer are home again for their next contest, looking to bounce back against Salve Regina University (4-3-4, 0-2-1) in New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) action this upcoming Wednesday, with kick-off slated for 4 p.m. The game will serve as a rematch of last season's NEWMAC Championship Tournament Semifinal, in which Salve dealt a heartbreaking 1-2 loss to end the Coast Guard's season. The two teams played to a one-goal draw in their most recent regular season match-up. The Bears are currently 3-0-1 in NEWMAC play.