Box Score
WENHAM, Mass.—Five different players registered goals as Gordon Men's Soccer entertained the home faithful with a 5-1 win over Salem State in the season opener for both teams. Gordon displayed a fast-paced, quick-decision attack and three freshmen scored their first collegiate goals in the home debut for the new-look Fighting Scots.
 
Gordon pressed the Vikings' defense right out of the gate, earning four corner kicks in the first 18 minutes of the game, but no quality scoring opportunities. Salem State was unable to counter back the other way, as Gordon held the ball in their offensive half for much of the first stanza.
 
Freshman Nathan Bilbie (Shrewsbury, Pa.) was able to give Gordon some life with a shot just in front of the goal. Salem State keeper Nondas Kargakis (Heraklion, Greece) was able to stop Bilbie's initial attempt, but Gordon sophomore Daniel Perez (Bedford, Mass.) was able to flick the ball in with his heel to give the Fighting Scots the early lead.
 
Gordon quickly regained possession after the kick and not to be outdone, Bilbie registered a flick-on goal of his own just a minute later off a beautiful pass from senior Kristian Kasiguran (Oakwood Village, Ohio). The goal was the first of the striker's young career.
 
In the 36^th minute, Aaron Terjanian (West Chester, Pa.) got loose from the last defender and hammered home a saved shot. Caleb Cole (Coatesville, Pa.) made the initial attempt, which was stopped by Kargakis, but Terjanian was alone on the right side of the goal to finish off the play. Salem State got its first good chances late in the first half, but both attempts were saved by Gordon keeper Josh Spoonhour (Greencastle, Pa.) to keep it a 3-0 game at the halftime break.
 
The Fighting Scots kept the pressure high in the second half, putting the Vikings on their heels. Bilbie almost scored on a chip shot in the 57^th minute, but the shot didn't dip enough as it rattled off the crossbar and out. Freshman John Schwien (Garnet Valley, Pa.) replicated the play only two minutes later, but Schwien was able to enough loft to put the ball in the net off a bounce.
 
Up 4-0, Gordon jockeyed with Salem State in the middle of the field for the next 30 minutes of play until Schwien put a perfect cross into the chaos just in front of the net. Freshman reserve Matt Jaeger (Ipswich, Mass.) rose above his defender on the back post and finished the header into net for a five-goal advantage.
 
Less than 30 seconds later the Vikings got on the scoreboard with a header from Ralph Bertrand (Rowley, Mass.). Greg Enos (Peabody, Mass.) poked a ball into the air and Bertrand was able to finish over the top of the defense for the lone Salem State goal of the evening.
 
Kargakis made five saves for the Vikings in the losing effort, while Spoonhour earned the win with 76 minutes of shutout goalkeeping. Junior Bruce Gerberich (Fredericksburg, Pa.) came in for relief of Spoonhour for the final 14 minutes. Gordon outshot the Vikings 14-6, but dominated possession throughout.
 
Salem State is back in action next Saturday at Endicott, while Gordon travels to the Husson Tournament next weekend for matches against Maine Maritime and Husson.