Women's Soccer Blanks MCLA, 6-0, on Senior Day

BRIDGEWATER, Mass. -- The Bridgewater State University Bears used a five-goal second half scoring outburst to post a 6-0 shutout over the visiting Trailblazers of MCLA in Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) women's soccer action on Saturday afternoon at Swenson Field.

With the win, the Bears improve to 6-9 on the season and 3-3 in the MASCAC.  The Trailblazers fall to 3-11-1 overall and 1-5 in conference play with their fifth straight setback.

Junior forward Mackenzie Hatfield (Whitman, Mass.) opened the scoring in the seventh minute as she tapped in a long volley from junior defender Allison LeBel (Millis, Mass.) off a restart. The goal marked Hatfield's team-leading 12th of the season and 29th of her career.

That would be the only scoring in the opening stanza as the two teams headed to the intermission with BSU leading 1-0.

Junior forward Carolyn Sessler (Plymouth, Mass.) started the second half scoring binge in the 51st minute as she ripped a shot from just outside the 18 that went off the keeper's outstretched hand and inside the left post. Sophomore midfielder Allyson Pontes (Dartmouth, Mass.) assisted on the goal as she made a nice run down the left side and slipped a pass to an unguarded Sessler.

Senior midfielder Emily Lane (Parsonsfield, Maine) scored from 25 yards out off a restart in the 53rd minute as her shot deflected in off the MCLA wall.  The goal marked Lane's first of the season.

Freshman forward Courtney Pepin (Uxbridge, Mass.) redirected a perfectly placed cross from junior defender Olivia Planty (Litchfield, N.H.) to make it 4-0 in the 67th minute.

Lane notched her second goal of the game in the 85th minute to give the Bears a 5-0 advantage. After collecting a throw-in from classmate Kaitlin Delaney (Centerville, Mass.), senior midfielder Lauren Bandoian (Medford, Mass.) slipped a short pass to Lane who beat the MCLA netminder with a shot inside the right post.

Delaney capped off the scoring with just 34 seconds remaining.  After the MCLA goalie punched out a cross, Delaney got to the loose ball and lofted a shot into the back of the net.

The Bears held a 20-2 shot advantage for the game as well as an 8-2 edge in corner kicks.

Junior Kristin Reardon (Weymouth, Mass.) and sophomore Emma Titus (Salem, Mass.) combined on the shutout for the Bears.  Neither was forced to make a save as the two MCLA shots were both off target.  Sophomore Katy Daly (South Cairo, N.Y.) made eight saves between the pipes for the Trailblazers.

Prior to the game, the Bears held Senior Day ceremonies to honor seniors Ashley Aldred (Saugus, Mass.), Bandoian, Delaney and Lane.

Bridgewater travels to UMass Boston on Tuesday afternoon for a 3:30 game with the Beacons.  The Bears then wrap up regular season play next Saturday afternoon (2:30) when they head to Salem State University for a key MASCAC tilt with the Vikings.  A win over the Vikings would give the Bears the #4 seed in the upcoming MASCAC Tournament and a first round home game.

The Trailblazers are at Rivier College on Wednesday (5:00), and host conference foe Massachusetts Maritime Academy next Saturday afternoon at one.  MCLA would earn a spot in the MASCAC Tournament with a win or a tie over the Buccaneers.