By Jim Fenton
BRIDGEWATER, Mass. -- Here's a look at the week ahead (Oct. 14-20) for the Bridgewater State University athletics teams:
MONDAY
FIELD HOCKEY, at UMass Dartmouth, 700 PM: The Bears (3-7) face the Corsairs (4-10) in a non-conference game at Cressy Field as they bid to end a four-game losing streak.
BSU owns a 24-18-4 lead in a series that began in 1973, including two straight wins. The Bears were 5-1 winners a year ago.
BSU will look to improve on a 1-4 road record this season as it faces an opponent from the Little East Conference.
TUESDAY
WOMEN'S TENNIS, UMass Dartmouth at home, 3:30 PM: The third-seeded Bears open the Little East Conference tournament with a quarterfinal-round matchup against the sixth-seeded Corsairs.
BSU (9-3, 6-2 Little East) lost in this round a year ago to Western Connecticut State, 5-4, after advancing to the semifinal round in 2022.
UMass Dartmouth (8-7, 4-4 Little East) lost to the Bears in Bridgewater, 9-0, earlier this month.
The winner advances to Thursday's semifinal round at Rhode Island College at 3:30 p.m.
VOLLEYBALL, at Worcester State, 7:00 PM: The Bears were edged by the Lancers, 3-2, a year ago.
BSU has a six-game winning streak and is 7-6 overall, 2-0 in the MASCAC. Worcester State is 6-14 overall and 2-0 in the MASCAC, tied with the Bears and Westfield State for first place.
WEDNESDAY
FIELD HOCKEY, at Salem State, 7:00 PM: The Bears defeated the Vikings, 1-0, in their first meeting this season on Sept. 21 with Lexi James scoring the goal and Brianna Gagnon recording the shutout.
The Bears have a 24-18-1 lead in a series that started in 1983. The Vikings are 2-9 with seven straight losses and are 0-5 in the MASCAC.
FRIDAY
MEN'S SOCCER, at Massachusetts Maritime Academy, 7:00 PM: The Bears are 33-7-4 against the Buccaneers since 1980, including a 4-2 win a year ago.
BSU is 6-4-2, including 4-0 to lead the MASCAC, while Mass. Maritime is 2-9 and 1-3 in the conference. This is the next-to-last regular-season road game for the Bears.
SATURDAY
MEN'S CROSS COUNTRY, at the Connecticut College Invitational, 10:00 AM: The Bears take part in their final meet before the MASCAC Championships on Nov. 2.
This marks BSU's first appearance at the Connecticut College Invitational, held at the Harkness Memorial State Park in Waterford, since the 2017 season when it placed 13th.
WOMEN'S CROSS COUNTRY, at the Connecticut College Invitational, 10:00 AM: BSU returns to this race for the first time since 2017 when it finished 19th.
The Bears are taking part in their fourth meet of the season before the MASCAC Championships on Nov. 2.
WOMEN'S SOCCER, Massachusetts Maritime Academy at home, Noon: The Bears will hold Senior Day as they take on the Buccaneers at Mazzaferro Field.
BSU is 15-0 since it started playing Mass. Maritime in 2008.
The Bears are 7-3-2, including 3-0-1 in the MASCAC, and own a four-game winning streak. Mass. Maritime is 2-6-1, including 1-3 in the MASCAC.
FIELD HOCKEY, Worcester State at home, 4:00 PM: The Bears play their third game in six days, hosting the Lancers.
BSU lost at Worcester State, 3-2, in overtime on Sept. 27 and has a 24-22 lead in a series that started in 1983.
Worcester State is 4-8, including 3-2 in the conference.
FOOTBALL, at Western Connecticut State, 5:00 PM: The Bears (2-3, 2-2 MASCAC) try to extend a two-game winning streak when they travel to Danbury, Conn., for the first of two straight road games following a bye week.
The Wolves (4-1, 4-0 and tied for first place with UMass Dartmouth in the MASCAC) are on a four-game winning streak since dropping the opener to the U.S. Merchant Marine, 44-27.
Western Connecticut State is averaging 44.6 points while allowing 16.8 points.
The Bears won over the Wolves, 35-28, a year ago and have a 15-11 lead in a series that dates back to 1971.