Week Ahead: Monday, Sept. 30 to Sunday, Oct. 6

By Jim Fenton

BRIDGEWATER, Mass. -- Here's a look at the week ahead (Sept. 30-Oct. 6) for the Bridgewater State University athletics teams as October gets set to arrive:

TUESDAY

VOLLEYBALL, at Framingham State, 6:00 PM: The teams get together for the first time since the quarterfinal round of the MASCAC tournament last season. The Rams defeated BSU to end the Bears' season on the road.

Framingham has won 19 straight matches against the Bears dating back to 2011.

This is the conference opener for BSU (4-6), who are on a three-game winning streak, and Framingham State (4-10). It is the only match the Bears have in a 13-day stretch.

FIELD HOCKEY, Framingham State at home, 7:00 PM: BSU is 3-4 overall, 1-1 in the conference, while the Rams are 2-4 and 1-1.

Bridgewater is 32-14 versus the Rams since 1983. Framingham, however, has won each of the last four meetings including a 3-2 win last season in the opening round of the MASCAC Tournament at Maple Street Field.

WEDNESDAY

WOMEN'S TENNIS, Salem State at home, 3:00 PM: After being idle for nearly a week, the Bears begin a stretch of three matches in four days.

BSU (4-2, 2-1 Little East) is 20-6 against the Vikings (10-4 at home), including an 8-1 win last season. Salem State is 5-2 and 2-1 in the conference this season.

WOMEN'S SOCCER, at Gordon, 6:30 PM: The teams meet for only the second time with BSU winning the opener of the series, 1-0, in double overtime on Oct. 16, 2019.

The Bears are 3-3-2 while Gordon is 5-2-1.

MEN'S SOCCER, Salve Regina at home, 7:00 PM: The Bears edged Salve Regina, 1-0, in Rhode Island a year ago and hold a 10-5-1 lead in the series dating back to 1980. BSU is 3-3-2 while Salve Regina is 4-5.

Bears coach Brendan Adams will be going for his 200th win.

FRIDAY

WOMEN'S TENNIS, UMass Dartmouth at home, 3:30 PM: The Bears have four straight wins over the Corsairs. Bridgewater State is 14-11 versus UMass (5-5 at home) since the Bears joined the Little East in 2004.

The match was rescheduled from Sept. 21.

BSU edged UMass Dartmouth, 5-4, a year ago.

SATURDAY

MEN'S CROSS COUNTRY, at Keene State Invitational: The Bears take part in their third meet of the season. BSU placed eighth at Keene State a year ago with Kevin McBirney being the top Bears' finisher at No. 3.

WOMEN'S CROSS COUNTRY, at Keene State Invitational: The Bears were seventh at the Keene State meet last season, led by Naomi Cass, who was second.

WOMEN'S SOCCER, Framingham State at home, noon: The Bears play their only home game in a four-week stretch, hosting the Rams (1-6-1).

The Bears own a 27-12-2 all-time record against Framingham State.  

WOMEN'S TENNIS, Plymouth State at home, 1:00: BSU defeated the Panthers, 8-1, a year ago to improve to 18-5 (9-3 on the road against Plymouth State since the Bears joined the LEC in 2004.

MEN'S SOCCER, at Framingham State, 2:00 PM: The Bears scored a pair of one-goal wins over the Rams a year ago. BSU eliminated Framingham State from the MASCAC tournament, 1-0.

The Bears hold a 32-14-5 all-time record in the series with the Rams, who are 0-6-2 and 0-2 in the MASCAC this season.

FIELD HOCKEY, at Westfield State, 3:00 PM: The Owls (3-6, 1-1 MASCAC) defeated the Bears twice last season by 3-1 scores. Bridgewater and Westfield have met every season since 1980 with the Bears holding a 25-22-2 edge in the all-time series (17-8 at home).

FOOTBALL, Worcester State at home, 4:00 PM: The Lancers (2-2, 2-1 MASCAC) are at Mazzaferro Field for the Homecoming Weekend game.

BSU won at Worcester State last season, 35-7. The Bears (1-3, 1-2 MASCAC) won their first game last Saturday against Framingham State.

Bridgewater has won 17 of the last 18 meetings of the two teams as the Bears hold a 26-11 advantage in the all-time series including a 12-7 mark at home.