Field Hockey Blanks Plymouth State in Season Opener, 3-0
BRIDGEWATER, Mass. -- For the first time since 2018, the Bridgewater State University field hockey team has won its season opener.
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | T |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
|
|
1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
Team Stats
Plymouth St.
| Game Statistics | Plymouth St. | Bridgewater St. |
|---|---|---|
| Shots (on goal) | 11 (7) | 9 (3) |
| Saves | 0 | 6 |
| Fouls | 37 | 38 |
| Penalty Corners | 8 | 8 |
By Jim Fenton
BRIDGEWATER, Mass. -- For the first time since 2018, the Bridgewater State University field hockey team has won its season opener.
Sophomore Samantha Souza (Dartmouth, Mass.) scored a pair of goals and senior Brianna Gagnon (Tewksbury, Mass.) recorded her fourth career shutout in a 3-0 victory over Plymouth State University at Mazzaferro Field Friday night.
BSU last won its opening game seven years ago, defeating Johnson & Wales, 6-2. The Bears had lost their first game in each of the past two seasons to Plymouth State, including a one-goal decision on a late score in 2024.
Souza, the Co-Rookie of the Year in the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference last season, picked up where she left off. Souza had 12 goals as a freshman to finish second in the conference.
Gagnon, who moved from the field to goalkeeper last season, had three shutouts a year ago.
The Bears scored single goals in each of the first three periods against the Panthers (0-1).
Souza gave BSU a 1-0 lead 13:58 into the game with sophomore Alison Curran (Braintree, Mass.) getting the assist.
With 19.4 seconds to go in the first half, sophomore Kallie Rose (Dartmouth, Mass.) made it 2-0 with an unassisted tally.
Rose scored off a turnover, getting behind the Plymouth State defense and beating freshman goalkeeper Natalie Merrick (East Longmeadow, Mass.) with a shot inside the left post.
Souza finished the scoring early in the third period at 30:26 with senior Raegen Perry (Nantucket, Mass.) assisting.
Perry slipped a pass in close that eluded the goalkeeper to Souza, who was at the left post. Souza then tucked a shot into the unguarded net.
Gagnon made six saves while BSU had just three shots on goal, scoring on each of them. The Bears also received a defensive save from senior Emelia Westwater (Attleboro, Mass.)
The Bears went 10-11 last season and reached the MASCAC championship game as the No. 5 seed, losing to Westfield State.
BSU is idle until Friday, Sept. 5, when it will host Maine-Farmington at 4 p.m.
Plymouth State plays its home opener on Saturday, Sept. 6 against Roger Williams at noon.