BRIDGEWATER, Mass. —
Senior midfielder
Cole Miller (Annapolis, Md.) registered his first collegiate hat trick to lead the United States Coast Guard Academy men's soccer team past non-conference foes Bridgewater State University, 4-1, on Saturday afternoon in Bridgewater, Massachusetts.
A much-needed win for Coast Guard improves them to 7-4-2 on the season, while Bridgewater State moves to 4-6-3 with their fourth straight loss. BSU will aim to get off the schneid on Wednesday, the 21st, in Little East Conference play as hosts of Rhode Island College (5-4-5).
The Bears struck first, scoring in the 20th minute thanks to a trio of senior backs. A
Kai Trager (San Clemente, Calif.) throw-in went
Jack Lopez's (Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.) way, who sent a cross into the box where
Naveen Jayaram (Tampa, Fla.) swooped in for a well-timed volley past the keeper.
Miller opened the second half by netting his first of the day, receiving the ball at midfield before weaving through the Bridgewater State defense to get it into the bottom right corner. BSU equalized less than ten minutes later when an attacker redirected a long cross into the box with his head to send a looping ball into the top right bin.
Coast Guard reclaimed their two-goal lead in the 69th. Senior keeper
Samuel Linkous (Gulf Breeze, Fla.) sent the ball ahead and past mid-field, where sophomore forward
Eric Howard (Ocean City, Md.) received and played it forward to Miller. The Annapolis product took a couple of dribbles to create space before firing from distance to secure a brace.
Insurance was added for CGA in the 80th, with Miller receiving the ball of a throw-in and once again weaving through the Bridgwater State backline to put it in the bottom right corner. The score marked Miller's first hat trick at the collegiate level, and the first for Coast Guard men's soccer since 2022 (John DiTomasso '23 vs. Mitchell College).
Linkous made five saves on the day. Coast Guard dwarfed their hosts with a 24-13 advantage in shot attempts, with 16 tries in the first half, and 15-6 margin in shots on goal. CGA also held a 6-4 lead on the corners and were called for 11 fouls, while Bridgewater State attracted nine whistles.
Coast Guard men's soccer will return to action on Wednesday the 21st for a return to New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) play at Salve Regina (3-6-4, 0-3-1). Last season's meeting between the two sides ended in a scoreless draw.
