By Jim Fenton

BRIDGEWATER, Mass. -- The Bridgewater State University field hockey team overcame an early two-goal deficit and defeated Worcester State University Tuesday night.

The Bears scored three times in the second period after falling behind, 2-0, in the first period and earned a 3-2 victory over the Lancers at Mazzaferro Field.

BSU improved to 9-2, its highest win total since 2018, and is in second place in the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference at the midway point of the conference schedule with a 5-1 record.

Sophomore Samantha Souza (Dartmouth, Mass.) became just the sixth player in program history to score 20 goals in a season while sophomore Kallie Rose (Dartmouth, Mass.) had a goal and an assist in the win.

Worcester State scored its first-period goals in the span of 2:28 to take a 2-0 lead.

Senior Kae Coleman (Attleboro, Mass.) opened the scoring at 5:43 by converting a rebound in front.

Senior Allison Keenan (Marlborough, Mass.) added a goal at 8:11 with senior Charlotte MacGregor (Bellingham, Mass.) getting the assist.

MacGregor flipped a backhander off a penalty corner towards the right post, and the ball found the stick of Keenan. She put a backhander into the cage for the two-goal lead.

BSU began the comeback at 19:46 in the second period when Rose scored her sixth goal, assisted by senior Raegen Perry (Nantucket, Mass.).

A pass from Perry went across the front of the net and right to Rose, who easily tapped it into the open right side of the cage.

Souza scored her 20th goal at 20:59 as she took a short crossing pass from Rose and put a one-timer into the net. The assist marked Rose's team-leading eighth of the season.

The only other BSU players to score at least 20 goals in a season are Shelby Farland (32 in 2012), Karen Croteau (29 in 1982), Samantha Hayes (23 in 2018), Bethany Bush (22 in 2010) and Brittany Cullinane (21 in 2016).

The Bears took the lead at 24:54 when junior Abbie Zuber (Westport, Mass.) scored her 14th goal. Zuber's intital shot as well as a rebound attempt by Souza were stopped sophomore goalkeeper Lizzy MacDonald (Medford, Mass.). The Worcester netminder attempted to kick the ball away but it went right back to Zuber who found the back of the net with the game-winning goal. 

Rose made a bid for another goal with 7:25 left in the game but was stopped on a breakaway by MacDonald who finished with five saves on the evening.

BSU senior goalkeeper Brianna Gagnon (Tewskbury, Mass.) made seven saves. Junior Madison Ellis (Attleboro, Mass.) and senior Emelia Westwater (Attleboro, Mass.) also recorded defensive saves for the Bears. Westwater leads the team with five defensive saves while Ellis now has four on the year.

The Lancers held a 14-12 edge in shots, 10-8 in shots on goal. Penalty corners were 14-11 in favor of the hosts.

BSU will be home again on Saturday, facing Fitchburg State at 11 a.m.

Worcester State is now 3-9 and 3-3 in the MASCAC. The Lancers play next Tuesday night, hosting Westfield State at 7 p.m.