Field Hockey Edged by Worcester State, 2-1

WORCESTER, Mass. – The Bridgewater State University field hockey team dropped a 2-1 decision to host Worcester State University in a Little East Conference (LEC) contest on Wednesday night at Coughlin Stadium.

Michaila Parent (Westborough, Mass.) and Olivia Antonelli (Westford, Mass.) each scored for the Lancers who improve to 6-4 on the season and 4-1 in the Little East. The visiting Bears fall to 5-3 overall and 3-3 in conference play.

Parent scored on a breakaway in the 23rd minute of play to give Worcester the 1-0 lead. Antonelli assisted on the goal.

Bridgewater State's Brittany Cullinane (Lunenburg, Mass.) knotted the score at 1-1 less than five minutes into the second half as she blasted home a long shot from just inside the half-circle. The goal marked Cullinane's team-leading tenth of the season and 27th of her career.

Just 35 seconds later, Antonelli found the back of the net off a feed from Parent to put the Lancers back on top, 2-1.

With under two minutes remaining in the game, Cullinane had a chance to net the equalizing goal on a penalty stroke attempt, but her shot sailed wide of the net.

Alli Baker (Somerset, Mass.) paced the Worcester defensive effort with a pair of defensive saves. Lancer goalkeeper Kathryn Salemme (Acton, Mass.) turned aside six shots to record her sixth win of the season.

Allison Chappell (Raynham, Mass.) was busy between the pipes for the Bears as she made ten saves in the setback.

The Little East schedule continues for both teams on Saturday afternoon. The Lancers travel to Plymouth State University for a one o'clock game with the Panthers, while the Bears head to Keene State College to take on the Owls at 1:30.

Notes: With her 27th career goal, Cullinane tied BSU Hall of Famer Kathy McGough (1986-89) for seventh place on the Bears' all-time goal scoring list.