Cullinane's Game-Winner Lifts Field Hockey Past Salem State, 2-1

BRIDGEWATER, Mass. – Sophomore midfielder Brittany Cullinane (Lunenburg, Mass.) notched the game-winning goal late in the second half to lift the Bridgewater State University field hockey team to a 2-1 victory over Little East Conference foe Salem State University on Tuesday evening at Swenson Field.

The host Bears improve to 7-8 on the season and 5-4 in the Little East as they are tied for fifth place in the conference standings along with Worcester State.  The Vikings slip to 2-12 overall and 1-8 in conference play.

Cullinane broke a 1-1 tie with just 2:22 remaining in regulation as she corralled the rebound of a Christine Curran (Ayer, Mass.) shot and lifted a backhander past the Salem netminder.  For Cullinane, the goal marked her sixth of the season and third game-winner.  She is tied for the team lead in both categories along with junior midfielder Brittney Field (Hubbardston, Mass.).

After a scoreless opening 35 minutes, junior forward Kelsey Kiely (Mansfield, Mass.) got the Bears on the board converting off a penalty corner just 1:52 into the second half.  Kiely ripped a shot inside the right post off a feed from senior midfielder Alison Loranger (East Freetown, Mass.).

That lead was short-lived, however, as Vikings' senior forward Kelsey Russell (Arlington, Mass.) tied it up less than two minutes later.  Russell's shot from just inside the circle deflected off the stick of a Bridgewater defender and into the back of the net for her sixth goal of the season.

After Cullinane reclaimed the lead, Salem almost sent the game into overtime with just 18 seconds left to play, but BSU freshman defender Janet Maher (Mansfield, Mass.) came up with a big defensive save on a shot by sophomore forward Kathryn Hart (Beverly, Mass.) to seal the victory for the Bears.

BSU sophomore netminder Kaylyn Allahyarian (Norwell, Mass.) turned aside eight shots, including a few key stops in the second half, to record her seventh win of the season.  Sophomore goaltender Carolyn Woodin (Arlington, Mass.) made nine saves between the pipes for the Vikings.

The Bears held a slight edge in both shots (18-16) and penalty corners (9-8) in an evenly played contest.

In upcoming Little East Conference action, the Bears travel to Eastern Connecticut State University on Saturday afternoon for a two o'clock game with the Warriors while the Vikings head to Westfield State University on Friday night to take on the Owls at seven.