By Jim Fenton
BRIDGEWATER, Mass. -- Here's a look at the week ahead (Oct. 21-27) for the Bridgewater State University athletics teams:
TUESDAY
MEN'S SOCCER, at UMass Dartmouth, 3:00 PM: The Bears play their final regular-season road game, traveling to Cressy Field for a non-conference matchup with the Corsairs (2-9-3, three straight losses).
The Bears own a 26-12-6 edge in the series that began in 1979 and have won 10 of the last 11 meetings, including a 3-0 decision last season.
BSU is 7-4-2 overall and 4-1-1 on the road in 2024.
WOMEN'S SOCCER, at Tufts, 6:00 PM: The Bears will be at Bello Field in Medford to take on the Jumbos, ranked 21st in the national Division 3 poll.
Tufts should be moving up in the rankings after handing No. 12 Middlebury its first loss Saturday.
The Jumbos (10-2-1, six straight wins) handed BSU a 4-0 loss a year ago. The Bears are 8-3-2 with four regular-season games remaining.
VOLLEYBALL, Fitchburg State at home, 6:00 PM: The Bears have won 16 straight against the Falcons and are 21-3 in the series.
BSU has won seven straight this season to improve to 8-6 and is 3-0 in the MASCAC. Fitchburg State is 3-13 with a 0-3 conference record.
FRIDAY
FIELD HOCKEY, Nichols at home, 7:00 PM: It will be Senior Night at Mazzaferro Field as the Bears play a non-conference game.
BSU (6-7, three straight wins) lost its last matchup with Nichols, 4-1, on Sept. 1, 2022. Nichols is 3-13 this season.
SATURDAY
EQUESTRIAN, at the Mor Linn Farm in Walpole, 9:00 AM: The Bears take part in their second competition of the season, this one hosted by Stonehill College.
The Bears placed sixth a year ago in Walpole.
MEN'S SWIMMING & DIVING, at the Roger Williams Invitational, 11:00 AM: After losing a season-opening dual meet to Saint Michael's, the Bears head to Rhode Island to take on the Hawks.
WOMEN'S SWIMMING & DIVING, at the Roger Williams Invitational, 11:00 AM: The Bears tune up for three dual meets in November with a trip to Rhode Island.
WOMEN'S SOCCER, at Westfield State, Noon: The Bears and Owls meet in a rematch of the MASCAC championship game last November, won by Westfield State, 2-1.
First place is on the line with the Owls (5-0) and BSU (4-0-1) the only undefeated teams in the conference.
The Owls hold a 24-17-8 lead in the series that started in 1987. Westfield State is 7-3-4 overall this season.
MEN'S SOCCER, Westfield State at home, Noon: The Bears play the first of three straight games at Mazzaferro Field to conclude the regular season.
BSU is 28-15-4 against the Owls since 1980. The Bears scored wins over Westfield State by 6-0 and 5-0 scores last season, the latter coming in the MASCAC final.
The Owls are 5-6-4 and 2-1-2 in the conference.
VOLLEYBALL, Westfield State at home, Noon: The Bears were edged by the Owls, 3-2, last season and have dropped 10 in a row in the series.
Westfield State is 10-11, including 3-0 in the MASCAC.
FIELD HOCKEY, at Framingham State, 2:00 PM: The Rams edged BSU, 2-1, when the teams met in Bridgewater on Oct. 1 during the first half of the MASCAC schedule.
The Bears have a 32-15 lead in the series that started in 1983. Framingham State is 5-8, 3-4 in the conference.
FOOTBALL, at UMass Dartmouth, 5:30 PM: The Corsars have won three straight games against the Bears, who lead the series, 20-15.
BSU was stopped by UMass Dartmouth, 34-14, at home last season. The Bears, Corsairs and Western Connecticut finished in a three-way tie for first place in the MASCAC at 7-1.
The Corsairs are 6-0 and 5-0 in the conference, tied with Western Connecticut State for the top spot.
SUNDAY
EQUESTRIAN, at Horsebarn Hill, Storrs, Conn.: The Bears close out the October portion of their schedule at a show hosted by the University of Connecticut.