Field Hockey Edges Worcester State, 2-1

BRIDGEWATER, Mass. – The Bridgewater State University field hockey team posted a 2-1 Little East Conference victory over visiting Worcester State University on Saturday afternoon at Swenson Field.

The Bears, winners of six straight games, improve to 7-3 on the season and 3-2 in the Little East.  Worcester slips to 6-4 overall and 2-3 in conference play.

Junior forward Beth Phillips (Worcester, Mass.) opened the scoring early for the Bears as she scored off her own rebound just 3:43 into the game. Early in the second half, BSU junior midfielder Shelby Farland (Fiskdale, Mass.) nearly gave BSU a 2-0 advantage off a penalty corner as she rang a shot off the crossbar.

Senior forward Breanna Clement (Pittsfield, Mass.), however, would stake Bridgewater to the  2-0 lead in the 43rd minute with her fifth marker of the season.  Clement redirected a shot struck by classmate Stephanie Lannon (Swampscott, Mass.) from the top of the circle with the goal coming off a penalty corner.

Worcester senior forward Samantha Janda (Sterling, Mass.) scored off a one-timer from in close off a short cross from classmate Sabrina Tordoff (Bellingham, Mass.) to cut the deficit to 2-1 in the 56th minute.  The Lancers pulled their goalie for the final 5:33 but managed just one shot in that span and could not come up with the equalizing tally.

The Lancers outshot the Bears by a slight margin of 9-8, while Bridgewater held a 10-9 edge in penalty corners.

BSU junior Cassie Johansen (Port Jefferson Station, N.Y.) earned her seventh win of the season as she turned aside four shots with all four saves coming in the second half. Worcester freshman Sydney Dionis (Shrewsbury, Mass.) made three stops between the pipes for the visitors.

The Little East Conference schedule continues for both teams on Tuesday night at seven as Bridgewater will host Little East foe Framingham State University while Worcester travels to Western Connecticut State University.