WESTFIELD, Mass. – Taylor Clancy (Braintree, Mass.) and Melanie Appleman (Hyannis, Mass.) each scored three goals to lead Bridgewater State University to a 12-9 victory Westfield State University in a key Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) women's lacrosse game on Tuesday evening, April 16.
The Bears boosted their record to 11-1 overall and 3-0 in the conference. Westfield had its six-game winning streak snapped as it moved to 8-3 overall and 3-1 in the MASCAC.
Bridgewater outscored Westfield 6-1 over a 23-minute stretch to take a 10-5 lead with 22:39 remaining in the game. Six different players netted goals during the key scoring run in the Bears' balanced offensive attack.
Led by two goals from Amanda Bouchard (Lexington, Mass.), the Owls cut the deficit to three, 11-8, with 6:19 remaining. But Clancy scored less than a minute later for the Bears' final goal.
Westfield took its only lead, 2-1, on a goal by freshman Sam Lungarini (Feeding Hills, Mass.) with 23:24 remaining in the first half. After Bouchard tied the score at 4-all at the 14:34 mark, Appleman and Lauren Geary (Hull, Mass.) tallied goals for a 6-4 Bears lead. Sadie Graham (North Andover, Mass.) scored for the Owls to make the halftime score, 6-5.
Bridgewater opened the second half by scoring four consecutive goals over a five-minute stretch to take its 10-5 lead.
The Bears outshot the Owls, 31-23, and dominated the ground balls, 31-18. Bridgewater's Olivia Gavin (Mashpee, Mass.) recorded a game-high six ground balls and Shelby Farland (Fiskdale, Mass.) had five grounders.
Geary registered team-highs of five draw controls and three caused turnovers for the Bears. Geary and Riley Cachelin (Westwood, Mass.) each scored two goals.
Bouchard scored a game-high five points (4 goals, 1 assist). She was the only player with multiple goals for the Owls. Megan Griffin (Granby, Conn.) had a game-high six draw controls.
Westfield goalie Mimi Khampaeng (Hampden, Mass.) had 12 saves and four ground balls. Bridgewater goalie Chandler Ross (Wrentham, Mass.) finished with six saves.