BRIDGEWATER, Mass. – Junior forward Morgan Matthews (Bethel, Conn.) tallied a pair of goals to lead the visiting Western Connecticut State University field hockey team to a 2-1 victory over Bridgewater State University in a Little East Conference (LEC) tilt on Wednesday night at Swenson Field.
The Colonials improve to 4-3 on the season and 2-1 in the Little East. The host Bears fall to 1-4 overall and 0-3 in conference play with their fourth straight setback.
Senior forward Alexander Zoebisch (Plymouth, Mass.) gave the Bears a 1-0 lead 7:47 into the game. After sophomore forward Olivia Ahlman (Halifax, Mass.) was stopped on a breakaway attempt, Zoebisch corralled the loose ball and flipped a shot from 13 yard out over the sprawled Western Connecticut keeper and into the back of the net.
Matthews buried a shot from five yards out off a short crossing pass from freshman midfielder Jordan Campbell (Mount Kisco, N.Y) in the 21st minute to knot the game at 1-1.
The score would remain tied heading into the intermission.
Matthews gave the Colonials a 2-1 lead with 15:27 remaining in the second half. Sophomore forward Kimberly Brower (Mahopac, N.Y.) set up the goal with a short pass to the front of the net. Matthews corralled the ball and slipped a shot into the left side of the cage for her team-leading fifth goal of the 2018 campaign.
Bridgewater State held a 15-13 shot advantage, while West Conn finished with a 4-2 edge in penalty corner attempts.
Sophomore Neve Manion (Newington, Conn.) turned aside seven shots to record her fourth win of the season between the pipes for the Colonials. BNSU senior netminder Allison Chappell (Raynham, Mass.) made five saves in the setback.
The Little East schedule continues for both teams on Saturday. The Bears entertain Fitchburg State University at 3:00 PM, while the Colonials travel to Plymouth State University to take on the Panthers at 11:00 AM.