Women's Soccer Blanks Salem State, 2-0

BRIDGEWATER, Mass. – The Bridgewater State University women's soccer team posted a 2-0 shutout victory over Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) rival Salem State University on Saturday afternoon at Swenson Field.

The host Bears improve to 7-6 on the season and 3-1 in the MASCAC, while the visiting Vikings fall to 4-6-2 overall and 2-1-1 in conference play. The Bears are now 18-15-4 all-time against the Vikings and 10-6-3 at home.

Senior forward Emma Sanders (Seekonk, Mass.) staked the Bears to an early lead as she potted her second goal of the season in the seventh minute. Sanders headed home a left-footed cross sent into the box by classmate Alana Vincent (Taunton, Mass.).

Moments later, Salem State junior goalkeeper Rebecca Sabino (Peabody, Mass.) made a nice leaping stop on Vincent's shot labeled for the far corner of the net.

With time winding down in the first half, sophomore midfielder Caitlyn Laliberte (Somerset, Mass.) gave the Bears a 2-0 lead with her first collegiate goal. Junior midfielder Annika Jurgilewicz (Pepperell, Mass.) sent a shot crossing pass into the box and Laliberte ripped a shot off the inside of the right post that caromed over the goal line. Freshman midfielder Monica Eires (New Bedford, Mass.) added the secondary assist on the strike. Jurgilewicz and Eires both recorded their first career points.

Junior midfielder Julianna Stacey (Hanover, Mass.) nearly cut the deficit in half in the 53rd minute as she rang the crossbar from about 12 yards.

Vincent hit the outside of the post in the 61st minute and freshman midfielder Kelly Powers (Stoneham, Mass.) rifled one off the crossbar just over a minute later.

The Vikings had a goal called back due to an offside call in the 78th minute.

Bridgewater State finished with an 18-14 shot advantage for the game, while Salem State held an 11-6 edge in penalty corner attempts.

BSU senior netminder Kellie Souza (Wilmington, Mass.) made two saves to notch her seventh win of the season and fourth shutout. Sabino turned aside four shots in the setback for the Vikings.

Both teams are back in action on Wednesday. The Bears entertain the Fighting Scots of Gordon College at 3:30, while the Vikings travel to Elms College for a seven o'clock game with the Blazers.

Notes: With her goal, Sanders reached the 50-point mark as she now has 51 points (16G, 19A) in her career. She is tied with Courtney Pepin (2014-17) for tenth place on the Bears' all-time scoring list…Vincent equaled Kara Kennedy (1987-89) for sixth place on the Bears' all-time list with her 65^th career point (27G, 11A).