Franklin, Mass.- In head coach Warren Backman's first game at the helm of the Dean College soccer program, the Bulldogs wasted no time in racing out to a quick start. Two minutes into the action, junior Chris Tunley (Las Vegas, Nev.) connected on a give-and-go feed from junior Nate Potter (North Bennington, Vt.) and beat the keeper low to give Dean the early lead. The Bulldogs controlled play from there, cruising to a 3-1 victory over visiting Lesley University in the season opener for both programs.

Tunley's big day was just getting started, as the midfielder added on two more scores to finish with three goals on the day, tying his total goals scored in 2023 in just the first match of the new season. 

After the initial goal, it took eighteen minutes for the Bulldogs to find the back of the net again. In the twentieth minute, Tunley corralled a cross from junior Brian Allen (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) turning to his right foot and finishing with a strike in the left corner. The Bulldogs entered the halftime break leading 2-0.

Lesley threatened in the second half, scoring a rebound goal off the foot of Marc Kenney Derac in the 77th minute to put the pressure back on the home squad. Dean responded seven minutes later on a corner kick off the foot of junior Seamus Doherty (Chelmsford, Mass.), that connected with Tunley for a header goal that gave Dean a 3-1 lead and sealed the victory.

The Bulldogs out-shot the Lynx 15-13 and led 5-3 in corner kicks. Dean goalkeeper Jake Godwin (Norwalk, Conn.) played all 90 minutes and finished with six saves.

Up next for the Bulldogs is a road match at Fitchburg State on Thursday at 4:00 p.m.