Field Hockey Nets Season-High Seven Goals in Little East Win over Fitchburg

BRIDGEWATER, Mass. – Seniors Samantha Hayes (Norwood, Mass.), Julianne Kilduff (Bellingham, Mass.) and Alexandra Zoebisch (Plymouth, Mass.) tallied two goal apiece while freshman Victoria Camara (Westport, Mass.) dished out three assists to lead the Bridgewater State University field hockey team to a 7-3 victory over Fitchburg State University in a Little East Conference (LEC) matchup on Saturday afternoon at Swenson Field.

With the victory, the Bears improve to 2-4 on the season and 1-3 in the Little East as they snapped a four-game losing streak. The Falcons fall to 3-4 overall and 2-2 in conference play.

Kilduff got the Bears on the board just 94 seconds into the game as she in the knocked one in off a series of rebounds.

Moment after Fitchburg had a goal called back due to an infraction, Hayes stick-handled around a couple of defenders and beat the keeper one-on-one with a shot inside the right post.

Sophomore forward Olivia Ahlman (Halifax, Mass.) extended the Bears' advantage to 3-0 in the eighth minute as she lifted a shot inside the near post off a crossing pass from Camara. The goal marked Ahlman's first of the season.

Sophomore forward Sophia Laperle (Auburn, Mass.) got the Falcons on the board in the 11th minute as she corralled a loose ball in front of the net and buried a shot into the left side of the cage.

In the 27th minute, Zoebisch reclaimed the Bears' three-goal lead as she beat the Fitchburg netminder between the pads off a cross passing from Camara.

Freshman forward Sarah Craig (Ashburnham, Mass.) cut the deficit to 4-2 a little over two minutes later. Stationed near the left post, Craig one-timed a pass from junior forward Aislinn DeHorsey (Leominster, Mass.) into the left side of the net.

Zoebisch closed out the first half scoring with her second goal of the afternoon and fourth of the season with just 1:02 remaining in the stanza. She ripped a shot from ten yards out just inside the right post off a centering pass from Camara.

Kilduff made it a 6-2 game with a blistering shot from just inside the circle in the 43rd minute. After stick-handling in from the 30, Kilduff tucked a shot inside the left post for her fourth goal of the 2018 campaign.

Senior forward Molly Richard (Leominster, Mass.) pulled the Falcons to within three in the 56th minute. Trailing the play, Richard received a centering pass from DeHorsey and found the back of the net from 12 yards out.

Hayes put the finishing touches on the Bears' 7-3 win with an incredible diving shot off a feed from senior midfielder Kathryn Jacobson (Norfolk, Mass.). The goal marked Hayes' team-leading sixth of the season and 30th of her career.

Bridgewater State finished with a 22-17 shot advantage, while Fitchburg State held an 8-2 edge in penalty corner attempts.

BSU junior goalkeeper Jillian Delaney (Foxborough, Mass.) turned aside seven shots to record her first win of the 2018 season in her first start of the year. Freshman Abby Bryant (Ware, Mass.) made 12 saves in the setback for the Falcons.

The Little East schedule continues for both teams next Tuesday. The Bears entertain Worcester State University at seven, while the Falcons host Framingham State University at four.

Notes: Hayes moved into sole possession of seventh place on the Bears' all-time scoring list. She now has 72 points in her career.