BRIDGEWATER, Mass. – Sophomore midfielder Brittany Cullinane (Lunenburg, Mass.) tallied a pair of goals including the game-winner in overtime to lift the Bridgewater State University field hockey team to a 2-1 Little East Conference victory over visiting Fitchburg State University on Saturday afternoon at Swenson Field.
The Bears improve to 4-4 on the season and 2-1 in the Little East, while the Falcons slip to 4-4 overall and 1-2 in conference play.
Junior forward Julia Gimenez (Framingham, Mass.) got the Falcons on the board in the 22nd minute converting a long cross from sophomore midfielder Hannah Mason (Leominster, Mass.). Gimenez's shot from in front broke in off BSU sophomore keeper Kaylyn Allahyarian (Norwell, Mass.) and slipped into the back of the bet.
Fitchburg would take the 1-0 lead into the intermission.
Cullinane tied the game at 1-1 just 52 seconds into the second half as she redirected a shot by junior forward Kelsey Kiely (Mansfield, Mass.). The goal came off a penalty corner.
The game would remain tied as the two teams headed to overtime. With 2:55 gone in the extra session, Cullinane potted the game-winner off a scramble in front of the net with Kiely picking up her second assist of the afternoon. The goal marked Cullinane's team-leading fifth of the season.
BSU held a 15-6 shot advantage for the game as well as a 9-4 edge in penalty corners.
Allahyarian made two saves to pick up her fourth win of the season. Senior netminder Lucy Holewa (Londonderry, N.H.) turned aside five shots in the setback for the Falcons.
The Little East Conference schedule resumes on Tuesday night at seven for both teams. The Bears entertain the Owls of Westfield State University, while the Falcons host the Warriors of Eastern Connecticut State University.