BEDFORD — Total domination led to feelings of frustration for undefeated Bedford after its 2-0 win over Manchester Memorial on a drizzly gray Tuesday.

If the game was held indoors, the Crusaders (2-5) might have violated a fire code by tactically packing so many players inside the confined space around the goal they were defending. On many occasions, the visitors purposely placed 10 players behind the ball, hoping to thwart Bedford's potent scoring attack.

Bedford entered the game having scored 26 goals in five games. The 2011 Division II champs, competing in its inaugural season at Division I, basically possessed the ball for the entire game but had trouble finding open space and finishing scoring opportunities.

The Bulldogs improved to 6-0, netting a first-half goal on a deflection on a corner kick and tallying an own goal in the second minute of the second half.

“We came away from this win feeling frustrated today,” said Bedford coach Stuart Pepper. “We felt we could do better than this, even if the other team packed players down around the goal.”

The Bulldogs outshot the Crusaders, 13-1. Memorial keeper Gary Archambault made nine saves. Two were fully outstretched leaping fingertip efforts that barely deflected shots of Bedford co-captains Erik Martel and Casey Schehl, who also clanked a second-half blast off the left crossbar.

Memorial defender Cameron Pellerin marked Martel, a legitimate All-American and Player of the Year candidate, the entire game and made several great sliding tackles. He blocked a few other shots off his body.

Almost every Bedford player had a touch on each possession while trying to lull the swarm of defenders away from the net in order to engineer a quick strike. Eighteen passes ultimately set up the Schehl shot that Archambault dove to save.

“We decided we rather give up possession than position, otherwise Bedford might score five or six goals. This was the best game we've put forward so far this season,” said Archambault, a senior keeper. “We got unlucky on their first goal and the second one was just a mistake.”

A Memorial defender leaped high to get a head on Nolan Villeneuve's corner kick offering. The ball deflected toward the right post where Anders Holt managed to get a leg on it, giving Bedford a 1-0 goal. A Memorial defender inadvertently netted Bedford's second goal, trying to clear Daniel Smushkin's 30-yard shot.

“That second goal was a killer. We didn't have much of a shot after that. At least our kids left here thinking they could hold off a contender,” said Memorial coach Chris Florek. His club produced one shot, a quick counterstrike from Shawn Thomas. Bedford keeper Taylor Wallace made a nonchalant save.

“This is an experience we me must be ready for. Other teams might attempt a similar tactic,” said Pepper. “After the game, we committed to practice more possessing, creating chances and finishing.”

eemmerling@unionleader.com