BRIDGEWATER, Mass. -- The Bridgewater State University field hockey team edged out the Falcons of Fitchburg State, 2-1, in a Little East Conference matchup on Saturday afternoon at Swenson Field.

With the win Bridgewater improves their overall record to 5-4 with a 4-1 mark in the Little East.  Fitchburg State falls to 7-4 on the season and 4-3 in conference play.

After a scoreless first half, things started to heat up for the final 35 minutes.  Fourteen minutes into the second stanza, Fitchburg State received their second green card, resulting in a five minute player advantage for the Bears. Sophomore forward Beth Phillips (Worcester, MA) had an opportunity one minute into the power play when she was one-on-one with Falcon goaltender Abbie Brown (Westwood, MA), but was denied by the sophomore netminder.  Three minutes later, Bridgewater took advantage of a penalty corner as senior forward Bethany Bush (Littleton, MA) found the back of the net for the ninth time this season off a feed from senior defender Liz Correia (Somerset, Mass.)

Bridgewater State was able to capitalize again off of a penalty corner in the 63rd minute. Senior forward Nicole Henrique (Swansea, MA) sent a shot toward the goal and onto the stick of Phillips who redirected the ball past the Fitchburg keeper.

Just two minutes later, Fitchburg was able to cut Bridgewater's lead in half. Off a penalty corner, sophomore forward Jamie Kelley (Pepperell, MA) directed a pass to senior midfielder Mari Roma (Foxborough, MA) who one-timed a shot into the back of the net for her 12th goal of the season.

Fitchburg held a slight 10-9 advantage in shots while penalty corners were even at nine apiece.  BSU senior goaltender Katie Weber (Arlington, MA) turned aside four shots to pick up her fifth win of the season.

Bridgewater State hosts Little East foe Salem State University on Monday at noon, while Fitchburg travels to Nichols College on Thursday at 7.