Women's Soccer Opens MASCAC Play with 4-0 Shutout of MCLA

BRIDGEWATER, Mass. – The Bridgewater State University women's soccer team opened Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) play with a 4-0 shutout victory over visiting MCLA on Saturday at Swenson Field.

The Bears improve to 3-3 on the season with their third straight win and 1-0 in the MASCAC, while the Trailblazers fall to 1-6 overall and 0-1 in conference play.

Bridgewater State is now 25-8-4 all-time against MCLA including a 17-2-1 mark at home.

Senior forward Alana Vincent (Taunton, Mass.) paced the Bears with two goals, while sophomore midfielder Cassie Brown (Augusta, Maine) and sophomore forward Madelyn Morin (East Longmeadow, Mass.) each found the back of the net. All four BSU tallies came in the second half.

After a scoreless first 45 minutes, Vincent broke the deadlock just 38 seconds into the second stanza off an assist from junior midfielder Samantha Tomaszewski (Sterling, Mass.). A long pass from Tomaszewski down the left side sent Vincent in one-on-one against the MCLA netminder. Vincent slipped a shot inside the far post to give the Bears a 1-0 lead.

Moments later, Brown accepted a short centering pass from senior forward Emma Sanders (Seekonk, Mass.) near the penalty kick stripe and beat the keeper with a shot inside the right post.

Vincent ripped a shot into the top left corner of the net from 25 yards out off a long feed from senior defender Kaitlyn Bongarzone (Mansfield, Mass.) to make it a 3-0 game in the 61st minute. The strike marked Vincent's team-leading fifth of the season and 22nd of her career. She now has 51 points in her career as she is tied with former teammate Courtney Pepin (2014-17) for ninth place on the Bears' all-time scoring list.

Morin potted her first collegiate goal in the 65th minute to cap off the scoring. Sanders picker up her second assist of the day on the marker as she rang the crossbar from 15 yards out. Morin calmly collected the rebound inside the six and buried a shot into the left side of the net.

Bridgewater State dominated possession throughout the contest as the Bears poured in 50 shots (19 on goal) and held the Trailblazers without a shot. The Bears also finished with a 9-0 advantage in corner kick attempts.

BSU senior goalkeeper Kellie Souza (Wilmington, Mass.) did not face a shot as she picked up her third win of the season and second shutout.

Senior netminder Megan Richardson (Adams, Mass.) had a tremendous game in net for the Trailblazers in the setback as she made 15 saves including a number of marvelous stops.

In upcoming action, the Bears host Keene State College on Thursday afternoon at four, while the Trailblazers entertain Becker College on Tuesday afternoon also at four.