Bridgton, ME – CMCC Men's Soccer led for the majority of the game, but a late penalty kick earned hosts Bridgton Academy a draw in this early-season match-up. Matthew Greco scored his first in a Mustangs jersey just before the half hour mark.
It was the sixth straight season playing the prep school out of the NEPSAC. Central Maine enjoyed the majority of possession through the early stages, but struggled to turn that into clear-cut scoring chances. The Mustangs' opener came from a Wolverines mistake. A soft back pass put Alvaro Monzon under pressure, and the Bridgton Academy goalkeeper's clearance was blocked by Greco. The winger out of Montreal, QC gathered the ball in the box before rifling a shot into the top corner for a 1-0 lead.
The visitors went into halftime up a goal, but not having much more to show for their end product. The hosts did have to settle for long-range efforts on target, not producing much to threaten CMCC goalkeeper Cody Cleaveland. That did not go unnoticed during the halftime team talks, with Daniel Semple and Drew Hatala putting shots on goal early in the second half, and Enzo Bousin following suit for Bridgton Academy.
As the half progressed, Central Maine appeared to play more defensively, looking to hold their lead and see out the rest of the game. However, they were punished for not putting the game away in the 83rd minute. A ball into the box led to a scramble, and a Mustangs defender was ruled to have tripped an attacking player causing the referee to point to the spot. Bousin stepped up and dispatched the penalty to put the game back on level terms at 1-1.
Central Maine pushed for a winner late on, but their last chance on a corner kick in the final minute went begging. The Mustangs continue their season-opening five game road trip with a visit to Maine Maritime Academy on Sunday.
