WELLESLEY, Mass. - The Wellesley College field hockey team moved to 3-0 on the season, topping Bridgewater State (1-1) by a score of 3-2 on Saturday afternoon in Wellesley.
The Blue controlled much of the possession, outshooting the Bears, 24-5, while Wellesley racked up a 17-1 advantage in corners. Bridgewater made the most of their attempts, however, putting late pressure on the Blue.
Wellesley opened scoring at the 10-minute mark, as freshman Courtney Peterson (Glastonbury, Conn.) scored on a pass from junior Lallie Lukens (Dakar, Sengal). Freshman Hannah Flesch (Rockville, Md.) took the initial shot on the corner, before the rebound bounced to Lukens to start the goal sequence.
Bridgewater State wasted little time in its comeback, knotting the game at 1-1 in the 18th minute. The Bear senior Carissa Vizakis (Bellingham, Mass.) deflected a long back from Mattie Burke that found its way into the right side of the cage for the equalizer, which came on their first shot of the game.
Wellesley ended the half continuing to control play, piling on seven shots and four corners over the final 15 minutes of action. Bridgewater State senior netminder Kacie Sturgeon (Dartmouth, MA) held strong, using five saves over the final 15 minutes of the half to preserve the 1-1 tie.
The Blue opened the second half with much of the same dominance as the first, recording four shots, before Flesch rocketed a goal from the left side of the circle, converting a corner opportunity on a Meghan Peterson (Glastonbury, Conn.) assist.
Wellesley seemed to put the game away in the 53rd minute, as a Meghan Peterson goal made it 3-1 Blue. Peterson scored on an assist from Flesch, on a corner started by Courtney Peterson.
Bridgewater State made things interesting in the 62nd minute, as Cizakis struck for her second goal of the game to make it 3-2. She tapped home a long feed from junior Jaclyn Holahan (South Yarmouth, Mass.) to cut the Blue lead to just one goal with nine minutes to play.
Wellesley then closed out the game, allowing just one Bridgewater State shot over the next nine minutes, as the Blue held on for the 3-2 victory.
Meghan Peterson and Flesch each recorded a goal and an assist for the Blue, while Courtney Peterson added the other Wellesley score. In goal for the Blue, senior goalie Brit Mscisz (Topsfield, Mass.) needed just two saves to earn the victory.
For Bridgewater State, Vizakis' two goals led the offense, while Burke and Holahan added two helpers each. In goal, Sturgeon recorded a whopping 15-saves in the loss.
Wellesley is back in action tomorrow afternoon, hosting Bowdoin at 2:00pm. Bridgewater State returns to play on Tuesday, traveling to Salve Regina for a 7:00pm contest.
Full Release Courtesy of Wellesley Sports Information