By Jim Fenton

BRIDGEWATER, Mass. -- For the first time since 2017, the Bridgewater State University field hockey team is off to a 2-0 start.

The Bears defeated the University of Maine-Farmington, 10-4, on Friday afternoon at Mazzaferro Field, one week after opening with a win at home over Plymouth State University.

It was the first-ever meeting between BSU and the Beavers (1-2), who play in the Central Maine Collegiate Field Hockey Conference.

The Bears broke open a close game by scoring five times in the third period after holding a 3-1 advantage at halftime.

Sophomore Samantha Souza (Dartmouth, Mass.) had four goals, one shy of the BSU record, and an assist to lead the BSU offense.

Souza, who had a team-best 12 goals as a freshman, tied her career-high for goals in a game. She also had four last Sept. 35 in a win over Anna Maria.

Junior Abbie Zuber (Westport, Mass.) scored two goals with an assist.

Freshman Ellie Moberg (North Reading, Mass.) scored the first two goals of her collegiate career and sophomore Kallie Rose (Dartmouth, Mass.) chipped in with a goal and three assists.

BSU jumped to a 2-0 lead, scoring 6:40 into the game as Zuber was assisted by sophomore Taylor Carter (Walpole, Mass.).

Carter sent a short centering pass to Zuber, who put a shot inside the left post.

Moberg opened the two-goal lead early in the second period, assisted by Rose.

A one-touch centering pass from Rose found Moberg, who slipped a backhanded shot into the back of the net at 18:47.

Maine-Farmington cut the deficit in half at 27:30 with freshman Ann Buffington (Enfield, N.H.) scoring from sophomore Mikayla Wilcox (Farmington, Maine).

BSU opened a 3-1 halftime lead by scoring with 25 seconds to go before the break, Souza getting the goal with Rose assisting.

A crossing pass from Rose eluded the goalkeeper and wound up on the stick of Souza, who scored into the unguarded net.

The Bears scored four of their five third-period goals in a span of 5:16 to open a 7-1 lead.

Souza, assisted by Rose, netted the first one of the second half at 32:18. A two-on-one play developed in transition with Souza one-timing a centering pass from Rose.

Just 2:04 later, Rose scored from sophomore Eve O'Rourke (Norwood, Mass.) off a scramble in front of the net as Rose tapped the ball in over the goal line.

The lead went to 6-1 at 35:36 as Zuber scored from Souza off a penalty corner as Zuber stickhandled in from the top of the circles and wristed a shot inside the left post.

Souza made it 7-1, assisted by sophomore Makena Flanagan (Clinton, Mass.), at 37:34. Souza took a feed and one-timed a shot into the net.

The Beavers got a goal from senior Abby Hanson (South Paris, Maine) at 37:57 with junior Gabby Vincentsen (Bristol, Maine) assisting.

BSU closed out the third-period scoring when senior Emelia Westwater (Attleboro, Mass.) converted a penalty stroke at 42:09.

In the final period, the Bears went up, 10-2, when Souza scored from Zuber at 48:17 and Moberg added a goal at 48:34.

Maine-Farmington's final two goals came at 56:34 from senior Bayley Casavant (Corinth, Maine), and at 59:41 from Wilcox.

Souza led the Bears with five shots on goal followed by Zuber with four and Moberg with three.

BSU senior goalkeeper Brianna Gagnon (Tewksbury, Mass.) played the first three periods and made two saves.

Freshman Aubrey Finn (Marshfield, Mass.) made her collegiate debut in the fourth period, stopping four shots in relief of Gagnon.

Maine-Farmington junior Ella Grant (Sturbridge, Mass.) had five saves.

BSU plays its first road game next Thursday, traveling to UMass Dartmouth for a 7 p.m. game.

Maine-Farmington will be at Anna Maria on Saturday at 3 p.m.