Field Hockey Holds Off Fitchburg State, 2-1

By Jim Fenton

BRIDGEWATER, Mass. -- For the first time since 2016, the Bridgewater State University field hockey team has reached double figures in wins.

The Bears improved to 10-2 on Saturday with a 2-1 victory over Fitchburg State University at Mazzaferro Field.

BSU last had at least 10 wins when it went 11-7 nine years ago. The Bears still have seven regular-season games remaining.

The games with the Falcons opened the second half of the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference schedule.

BSU is 6-1 in the conference, one-half game behind Westfield State, which plays Saturday afternoon. Fitchburg State is now 7-5 and 4-3 in the MASCAC.

The Bears swept the season series from the Falcons, winning both times by a 2-1 score. The opening game on Sept. 16 went to overtime.

This time, BSU took a 2-0 halftime lead and held off Fitchburg State in the second half for a third win in a row.

The Bears opened a 1-0 lead at 26:52 when junior Madison Ellis (Attleboro, Mass.) scored her second goal of the season. The goal came on a penalty corner as Ellis accepted the insert pass from sophomore Samantha Souza (Dartmouth, Mass.) at the top of the circle and fired a shot into the left side of the net.

Junior Abbie Zuber (Westport, Mass.) scored the other goal just 1:13 later, making it 2-0 at 28:05. Zuber now has 15 goals this season, second on the team.

The strike also occured off a penalty corner with Zuber converting following back-to-back saves by Fitchburg sophomore goalkeeper Isabella Corcoran (Braintree, Mass.).

The Falcons' lone goal came at 35:25 when sophomore Madison Butler (Carver, Mass.) scored from sophomore Kendall O'Brien (Townsend, Mass.).

BSU senior goalkeeper Brianna Gagnon (Tewksbury, Mass.) recorded eight saves and improved to 10-1.

Corcoran stopped 10 shots in the setback for the Falcons

The Bears held a 22-14 edge in overall shots, 12-9 in shots on goal, as well as an 11-6 advantage in penalty corners. BSU is now 5-2 at home this season.

Souza had five shots on goal for the Bears while sophomore teammate Kallie Rose (Dartmouth, Mass.) added three.

BSU travels to Salem State on Tuesday for a 4 p.m. game. Three of its next four games are on the road.

Fitchburg State hosts Framingham State on Tuesday at 7 p.m.