BSC Bears Shutout UMass-Dartmouth in Little East Opener, 1-0

Box Score 

BRIDGEWATER, Mass. – In Little East Conference field hockey action this afternoon at Swenson Field, senior goaltender Nicole Downs (Hanover, MA) turned aside 5 shots and senior forward Ashley Panzini (Saugus, MA) notched the game-winning goal to lift the host Bears of Bridgewater State College to a stunning 1-0 shutout victory over UMass-Dartmouth.

Bridgewater State entered the 2007 season ranked 8th in the Little East preseason poll while UMass was tied for top ranking. With the win, BSC improves to 2-0 overall and 1-0 in conference play as the Bears are undefeated after two games for the first time since the 1995 season. UMass falls to 0-2 on the season and 0-1 in the Little East.

Panzini netted the game-winner at the 18 minute mark of the first half as she stick-handled the ball past a defender and rifled a shot past the sprawling UMass keeper.

Downs turned aside three shots in the first half and two in the second to register her first shutout of the season and seventh of her career. Her final save of the game was her biggest as she dove to her right to cut down a labeled one-time attempt.

UMass senior Liz Fitzgerald (Danvers, MA) played well in goal for the Corsairs in the loss as she recorded 9 saves on the afternoon.

Bridgewater State will look to improve to 3-0 as the Bears host WPI next Thursday at 4 PM. UMass, still in search of its’ first win of the season, hosts Clark University on Tuesday at 4.