Field Hockey Downs Plymouth State, 3-2, Behind Farland's Two Goals

BRIDGEWATER, Mass. -- Senior midfielder Shelby Farland (Fiskdale, Mass.) scored a pair of goals, including the game-winner on a penalty stroke with just under ten minutes remaining, to lift the Bridgewater State University field hockey team to a 3-2 Little East Conference victory over Plymouth State University on Saturday afternoon at Swenson Field.

The host Bears improve to 15-2 on the season and 9-1 in the Little East, while the Panthers slip to 9-5 overall and 7-3 in conference play.  Bridgewater remains in second play in the LEC standings with the win.

Farland opened the scoring in the 15th minute off a penalty corner.  Junior midfielder Georgina Bagordo (Sparta, N.J.) slid a short pass to Farland who ripped a shot from just inside the top of the circle and beat the goalie to the left side.

Plymouth State tied the game up a little over ten minutes later as senior forward Olivia Colborn (Lancaster, N.H.) notched her team-leading 17th goal of the season.  After misfiring on her first shot attempt, Colborn recovered and fired a shot from six yards out.

The game would remain deadlocked as the teams headed to the intermission.

Bridgewater senior forward Beth Phillips (Worcester, Mass.) gave the Bears a 2-1 advantage in the 56th minute with her eighth goal of the season.  Phillips, stationed at the right post, hopped on a loose ball and banked in a shot off the Plymouth keeper.

That lead was short-lived, however, as Plymouth came right back to tie the game up at two apiece just two minutes and 20 seconds later.  Sophomore forward Emily Davis (Boscawen, N.H.) notched her sixth marker of the season with a shot to the left corner off an assist from junior forward Jackie Morin (Scarborough, Maine).

Farland notched the game-winner with her 28th goal of the season and fourth coming off a penalty stroke.  The winning strike came with 9:59 left to play as Farland wristed a shot that deflected in off the goalie.

The Bears outshot the Panthers by a margin of 13-10 for the game, while Plymouth held a 10-8 advantage in penalty corners.

BSU junior netminder Kacie Sturgeon (Dartmouth, Mass.) made five saves to record her eighth win of the season between the pipes for the Bears.  Junior Hilary Lemelin (Milan, N.H.) turned aside four shots in goal for the Panthers.

With her two-goal performance, Farland is now one shy of the Bears' single-season mark of 29 goals set by BSU Hall of Famer Karen Croteau in 1982. Farland also extended her point-scoring streak to 21 games dating back to last season.

Prior to the game, Farland, Phillips and fellow seniors Megan Cullinane (Lunenburg, Mass.), Olivia Galvin (Mashpee, Mass.) and Cassie Johansen (Port Jefferson Station, N.Y.) were honored as they were playing in their final regular season home game.

Bridgewater wraps up regular season play next Saturday afternoon as the Bears travel to Eastern Connecticut State University for a noontime Little East game with the Warriors.  Plymouth hosts Saint Joseph's College in a non-conference match on Wednesday afternoon at three.