Women's Soccer Battles UMass Boston to 0-0 Draw

By Jim Fenton

BRIDGEWATER, Mass. -- For the second time this season, the Bridgewater State University women's team took part in a scoreless tie.

The Bears and the University of Massachusetts Boston played to a 0-0 non-conference draw on Wednesday afternoon at Mazzaferro Field in the regular-season home finale.

BSU and visiting Wheaton College also failed to score when the two teams met on Sept. 12.

It marks the first time the Bears have had at least two scoreless ties since 2016 when they played 0-0 games with Worcester State, Salve Regina, the MCLA and Plymouth State.

BSU had an opportunity to break the tie with less than 15 seconds remaining on a bid by senior Sydney Dewhurst (East Bridgewater, Mass.).

Her shot from about 12 yards out was stopped by senior keeper Isabella O'Connell (Abington, Mass.). Dewhurst then took a follow-up shot off a rebound, but the ball sailed over the crossbar.

The Bears had a goal waved off with a little more than five minutes to go because of a foul off a corner kick.

BSU junior goalkeeper Logan Levesque (Bristol, R.I.) made nine saves for her fourth shutout of the season and third in her last six starts. Levesque now has 17 shutouts (16 solo) in her career.

O'Connell also had nine saves to earn the shutout in her sixth start of the season.

Junior Olivia Robarge (Pepperell, Mass.) led the Bears with two shots on goal.

Junior Andrea Rivera (San Juan, Puerto Rico) had three shots on goal for the Beacons.

Bridgewater State edged UMass Boston in shots, 19-15, and the teams each had three corner kicks.

The Bears (9-4-3) finish the regular season on Saturday at 1 p.m. when they travel to the MCLA.

BSU can clinch its second straight Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference title. The Bears are 5-0-1 while second-place Westfield State is 5-1-0, and the Owls finish by playing Salem State.

BSU head coach Yasmina Carvalho can tie the program record for wins with a victory over MCLA. Carvalho is 95-70-19 in 11 seasons as the Bears' skipper. Andrea Zeigler guided the women's soccer program to a 96-81-20 record for 11 seasons from 1999 to 2009. Carvalho played for the Bears during Zeigler's last four years on the sidelines.

The Bears, who were ranked eighth in the latest United Soccer Coaches Division III Region II rankings, will have a bye in next week's MASCAC tournament and will play in the semifinal round at home on Friday, Nov. 8.

UMass Boston (10-3-5) concludes the regular season on Friday at 6 p.m., hosting Eastern Connecticut State. The Beacons are second in the Little East with a 5-1-1 record.

UMass Boston leads the series over BSU, 9-2-3, dating back to 2010.