By Jim Fenton

BRIDGEWATER, Mass. -- The Bridgewater State University women's lacrosse team has put together its first three-game winning streak of the season.

The Bears ended the regular-season home schedule on Tuesday night with a 15-5 victory over Salem State University at Mazzaferro for the third win in eight days.

BSU assured itself of an opening-round home game in next week's Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference tournament.

The Bears (6-10) are now 4-2 in the conference while the Vikings (8-5) are 2-4 in the MASCAC.

A victory by BSU at Framingham State on Saturday morning would give the Bears the No. 3 seed.

BSU and Framingham State are currently tied for third place, trailing Worcester State and Westfield State.

Senior Ashley Silva (Rowley, Mass.) had a career-high five goals for the Bears, giving her 13 on the season, while sophomore Jade Muñoz (Mendon, Mass.) had three goals and two assists.

Senior Meredith Sylvia (Dartmouth, Mass.) scored two goals and assisted on two others and senior Katie Lamothe (Dartmouth, Mass.) had two goals.

BSU held a 4-0 lead after the first period with junior Erin Henn (Ronkonkoma, N.Y.) scoring 4:10 into the game and Sylvia netting a goal 1:46 later before Silva scored twice in the span of just 13 seconds.

Salem State opened its scoring 1:16 into the second period on a goal from freshman Addie McAughey (West Bend, Wis.) before Munoz scored twice in 29 seconds for a 6-1 lead.

Lamothe had a goal for the Bears with 7:07 left in the half and the Vikings' senior Aislinn Bennett (Milford, Mass.) made it 7-2 at the break, scoring with 2:22 remaining.

BSU helds advantages at the half in shots, 18-7, shots on goal, 14-2, and the Vikings committed 15 turnovers.

The Bears scored the first three goals of the second half for a 10-2 lead with Sylvia getting the first 52 seconds in and Silva adding the next two.

Senior Laura Young (Leominster, Mass.) had Salem State's two goals in the period while junior Kaylei Joseph (Fairhaven, Mass.) and Munoz also scored for BSU, which held a 12-4 lead going into the last period.

Sophomore Sophia Fleurent (Fairhaven, Mass.), Silva and Lamothe had fourth-period goals for BSU while junior Olivia Tednes (Elk Grove Village, Ill.) had the Salem State goal.

BSU outshot Salem State, 33-15, and 27-8 in shots on goals plus groundballs (22-12). Salem held a 14-9 edge in draw controls with Tednes and Bennett leading all players with five apiece.

Fleurent led Bridgewater with four draw controls. She also dished out a pair of assists.

Freshman midfielder Kate Fitzpatrick (Methuen, Mass.) notched a game-best four caused turnovers and four ground balls to go along with three draw controls.

Sophomore goalkeeper Sara Skaff (Lowell, Mass.) mad three saves for BSU while junior Nora Bradley (Haddon Township, N.J.) had 12 stops for the Vikings.

Sylvia now has 37 goals to lead BSU this season.

After playing at Framingham State on Saturday, BSU will open the MASCAC tournament next Tuesday at home.

Salem State ends the regular season Saturday morning at Worcester State.