MERRIMACK — Trailing by two goals at half to neighboring Bedford, Merrimack still had a to feel confident Friday: senior co-captain Nate Cushman was in goal.

Merrimack did cut the deficit in half as Mike Conlin, aided by a nifty through pass from James Oswald, scored in the 68th minute. The Tomahawks built some good scoring bids in the final minutes but didn't finish as Bedford prevailed, 2-1, moving to 3-0 in its inaugural Division I season.

“Nate kept us in this game,” said Merrimack coach Ryan Farnsworth. “We might have trailed by six or more in the first half without his heroic effort.”

Bedford dominated the first half, owning play at midfield and creating one scoring opportunity after another. Cushman made eight saves in the half, stretching to save three shots and stopping two from point-blank range while on his knees. He had 12 saves by game's end.

“He was good. He robbed me a couple of times,” said Bedford striker Erik Martel, who netted both Bulldog goals. He carom ed one ball off a defender's leg to net a goal from the end line at 6:30. Cushman very nearly made a fingertip save of Martel's second goal, at 37 minutes, a left-to-right crossing shot bullet from 20 yards out.

It was Merrimack's (1-2-1)second one-goal defeat against a 2011 champion this season. The Tomahawks opened with a 1-0 loss to defending Division I champ Manchester Central. Bedford claimed the D-II crown last season before moving up this year.

Tenacious play at midfield kept Bedford on the offensive. Accurate through passes at midfield from John Cassidy sprung Marco Ibanez and Martel for shots. Possession oriented play around the goal created open looks for Anders Holt and Casey Schehl. Bedford outshot Merrimack, 20-6, in the game but couldn't net a third goal.

“They are hard to defend. They get so many touches up close to the goal and have some terrific shooters. I had very little time to react,” said Cushman, Merrimack's senior keeper.

Though his club managed one good shot before intermission, Cushman was confident his offense would make a game of it in the second half.

“I don't give up on them. They don't give up on me,” he said.

Merrimack did not slow down in the second half. Bedford Keeper Taylor Wallace saved Jeremy Gruber's bicycle kick in the 75th minute.

“Being up by two is tough,” said Schehl, who played tenaciously at midfield and controlled his team's possessions. “You start getting conservative, try and waste time and end up losing an edge.”

“There was no giving up with Merrimack. They played terrifically and forced us to dig down and fight in the final 20 minutes to gut out a victory,” said Bedford coach Stuart Pepper. “We are capable of fighting it out.”

eemmerling@unionleader.com