Field Hockey Posts 5-2 MASCAC Win Over Fitchburg State

FITCHBURG, Mass. – Graduate forward Jordyn Perry (Nantucket, Mass.) scored a pair of goals to lead the visiting Bridgewater State University field hockey team to a 5-2 Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) victory over Fitchburg State University on Friday night at Elliot Field.

The Bears improve to 3-6-1 on the season and 1-4 in the MASCAC while the Falcons fall to 2-8 overall and 1-4 in conference play. The game marked the 38th meeting between the two squads in the sport of field hockey with the Bears now holding a 28-9-1 lead in the all-time series including a 15-4 mark on the road.

After a scoreless first quarter, Fitchburg got on the board as senior defender Sydney Alto (Chelmsford, Mass.) found the back of the net off an assist from sophomore forward Autumn Tibbetts (Lunenburg, Mass.).

The Falcons looked as though they would take the 1-0 lead into the break as the clocked ticked under a minute in the second period. With time winding down, sophomore midfielder Raegen Perry (Nantucket, Mass.) slipped a through-pass to sophomore forward Brianna Gagnon (Tewksbury, Mass.) who got behind the defense. Gagnon chipped a shot over the charging Fitchburg netminder and the ball rolled into the back of the net with just 15 seconds showing on the scoreboard. The goal marked Gagnon's fourth of the season.

Less than two minutes into the third quarter, Jordyn Perry gave the visitors a 2-1 lead as she re-directed a shot from freshman midfielder Abbie Zuber (Westwood, Mass.).

Senior forward Zoe Bergeron (Blackstone, Mass.) converted on a penalty stroke 1:12 into the fourth quarter to extend the BSU advantage to 3-1.

Just sixty-nine seconds later, sophomore forward Sophia Yates (Woodstock, Vt.) blasted a shot inside the right post from the top of the circle off a penalty corner to cut the Falcon deficit to 3-2. Junior forward Alexis Raymond (Tewksbury, Mass.) assisted on the goal.

Jordyn Perry answered off a penalty corner just over two minutes later as she tucked home the rebound of a Raegen Perry shot to reclaim the two-goal cushion.

Sophomore forward Lexi James (Ipswich, Mass.) put the finishing touches on the Bears' 5-2 win with just 38 seconds left play. James one-timed a crossing pass from Bergeron for her team-leading seventh goal of the season.

Bridgewater finished with a 23-14 shot advantage for the game while Fitchburg held a 9-5 edge in penalty corner attempts.

BSU freshman goalkeeper Kailey Hutchinson (Fall River, Mass.) made six saves to pick up her second win of the season. Senior netminder Jenna Morse (Leominster, Mass.) turned aside 11 shots in the setback for the Falcons.

The MASCAC schedule continues for both teams next Wednesday. The Bears entertain Salem State University at seven o'clock, while the Falcons host Framingham State University at four.

Notes: Zuber and Raegen Perry each recorded their first collegiate point...The Bears snapped a five-game losing streak and won their first MASCAC game since the conference added field hockey as a varsity sport following the conclusion of the 2022 season.