Women's Lacrosse Posts 15-5 Win Over Salve Regina

BRIDGEWATER, Mass. -- The Bridgewater State University women's lacrosse team downed visiting Salve Regina University, 15-5, in a non-conference matchup on Wednesday night at Swenson Field.

The Bears improve to 1-2 with their first win of the young season, while the Seahawks fall to 0-3. Bridgewater now holds a 17-2 lead in the all-time series including an 11-1 mark at home. The two teams were meeting for the first time since 2016.

Senior midfielder Delaney Langton (Scituate, R.I.) paced Bridgewater State with four goals and an assist. Langton also added four ground balls, four draw controls and three caused turnovers. Sophomore attack Melanie McClay (Plymouth, Mass.) checked in with two goals and three assists for the Bears while classmate Camryn Gonsalves (East Bridgewater, Mass.) netted a hat trick. BSU sophomore midfielder Erin McIntyre (Tewksbury, Mass.) potted a pair of goals to go along with three ground balls, a game-high eight draw controls and three caused turnovers.

Senior midfielder Kelly Ventura (Floral Park, N.Y.) led the way for Salve Regina with a goal and an assist as well as four ground balls, five draw controls and two caused turnovers. Sophomore midfielder Samantha Moleti (Township of Washington, N.J.) contributed two goals, two ground balls and three caused turnovers for the Seahawks.

Trailing 2-1 early in the first quarter, the Bears used a 9-0 run to take control of the game. Bridgewater scored the final six goals of the opening period and the first three markers of the second quarter. Six different players found the back of the net during the spurt including three goals and an assist from Langton, two by Gonsalves and a goal and three assists from McClay. The Bears would ultimately take an 11-4 lead into the break.

Bridgewater outshot Salve 28-8 over the first 20 minutes.

After Salve pulled to within six (11-5) just 37 seconds into the third quarter on a free position tally by Ventura, the BSU defense completely shut down the Seahawks the rest of the way. Gonsalves answered for Bridgewater State with 5:22 remaining in the third quarter and the Bears received goals from McIntyre, freshman attack Katie Lamothe (Dartmouth, Mass.) and freshman midfielder Meredith Sylvia (South Dartmouth, Mass.) in the final period to account for the final tally of 15-5. Lamothe's goal marked the first of her collegiate career.

The Bears held the edge in shots (39-20), draw controls (18-6) and ground balls (26-23). Bridgewater converted 3 of 5 free position attempts and went 15-for-20 on the clear. Salve was successful on 17 of 25 clear attempts and went 1-for-3 from the free position.

Junior netminder Laura Giovaniello (Walpole, Mass.) made eight saves to pick up the win in her first start of the season between the pipes for the Bears. Sophomore goalkeeper Grace Haesche (Warwick, N.Y.) turned aside 16 shots in the setback for the Seahawks.

In upcoming action, the Bears host the University of New England on Friday afternoon at four o'clock while the Seahawks entertain Simmons University on Saturday afternoon at one.