Field Hockey Falls in Double OT to Worcester in MASCAC Semifinals

BRIDGEWATER, Mass. -- The Bridgewater State University field hockey team had its season come to an end in stunning fashion on Thursday night.

The second-seeded Bears were eliminated from the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference tournament in the semifinal round, losing to fourth-seeded Worcester State University, 2-1, in the second overtime period at Mazzaferro Field.

BSU (15-5) had compiled the most wins since 2013 and went 10-2 in the conference during the regular season, finishing second to unbeaten Westfield State.

The Bears set a program record by scoring 86 goals, which leads the MASCAC, but the Lancers shut down the BSU offense and recorded the upset win 56 seconds into the second OT.

Senior Allison Keenan (Marlborough, Mass.) scored the game-winning goal off a penalty corner, netting her seventh goal of the season.

BSU had defeated the Lancers (9-11) twice in the regular season, 3-2 and then 5-4 in overtime last Saturday when the Bears overcame a 4-1 deficit.

The Lancers outshot BSU, 26-8, and had a 14-3 advantage in shots on goal and led in penalty corners, 10-7.

The final penalty corner in the opening minute of the second OT led to the winning score.

Freshman Katelynn Swistak (West Brookfield, Mass.) fired a shot from just inside the circle that was redirected into the left side of the cage by Keenan.

The BSU offensive chances were limited with junior Abbie Zuber (Westport, Mass.) having two shots on goal and sophomore Kallie Rose (Dartmouth, Mass.) getting the other one.

Worcester State limited sophomore Samantha Souza (Dartmouth, Mass.) to just one off-frame shot. Souza leads the MASCAC and ranks second nationally in Division III with a school-record 33 goals.

The Lancers took a 1-0 lead just 3:52 into the game when Swistak scored off the rebound of a Charlotte MacGregor (Sr., Bellingham, Mass.) shot. Swistak has five goals this season.

Worcester clung to the one-goal advantage until Zuber tied it midway through the third quarter. On a penalty corner, Zuber converted off the rebound of a Rose shot for her 20th goal of the season.

The 20 goals are the seventh-highest total in a season at BSU. Zuber finished with 53 points, the fifth-highest single-season total and she is tied for seventh with 84 career points.

BSU senior goalkeeper Brianna Gagnon (Tewksbury, Mass.) made 12 saves in her final game.

Sophomore Lizzy MacDonald (Medford, Mass.) made two saves for the Lancers.

It was the first time BSU hosted a conference tournament game since 2013.

Worcester State advances to Saturday's MASCAC championship game at defending champion Westfield State. The Owls defeated Framingham State, 2-0, on Thursday and are 17-3 with 15 straight wins.

Westfield State defeated BSU in the final game a year ago, 2-1. The Bears were the No. 5 seed and won a pair of games to reach the championship round.

BSU will lose five seniors, including Gagnon, Catherine Daoulas (Marshfield, Mass.), Raegen Perry (Nantucket, Mass.), Irianny Solorin (Methuen, Mass.) and Emelia Westwater (Attleboro, Mass.).