BRIDGEWATER, Mass. -- Led by tournament MVP Taylor Clancy (Braintree, Mass.), the Bridgewater State University Bears captured their second straight Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) Women's Lacrosse Tournament championship as the top-seeded Bears downed second-seeded Worcester State University, 19-7, on Saturday afternoon at Swenson Field.
Bridgewater (14-5) will now advance to the NCAA Division III Tournament for the fifth straight season and sixth time in program history. The Bears will await word on the NCAA Tournament pairings which are expected to be announced on Sunday night at 9:30 on NCAA.com. Worcester slips to 12-4 overall.
Clancy potted a game-high six goals and added an assist to go along with a ground ball, three controlled draws and a caused turnovers.
BSU freshman attack Melissa Renauld (Framingham, Mass.) led all players with eight points on five goals and three assists. Sophomore midfielder Lauren Geary (Hull, Mass.) chipped in with three goals, four ground balls and a game-high eight draws. Junior attack Riley Cachelin (Westwood, Mass.) added three goals and an assist, while senior attack Melanie Appleman (Hyannis, Mass.) notched two goals, two ground balls and two caused turnovers.
Leading 7-4 midway through the first half, the Bears used an eight-goal outburst to put the game out of reach before halftime. Five different players scored during the run with Clancy finding the back of the net three times.
Bridgewater led 15-5 at the break and got up by as many as 12 goals twice in the second half including the final tally of 19-7.
The Bears outshot the Lancers, 30-24, and held a 16-12 advantage in draws as well as a 14-11 edge in ground balls.
Sophomore Chandler Ross (Wrentham, Mass.) played very well in goal for the hosts as she turned aside 12 shots and recorded a .632 save percentage. Ross improved to 6-2 on the season with the win.
Sophomore attack Kalia Chase (Northbridge, Mass.), junior attack Molly Kilday (Westford, Mass.) and freshman Alaina Martin (East Longmeadow, Mass.) paced the Lancers with two goal apiece. Martin also added an assist. Freshman netminder Lea Robichaud (Holden, Mass.) made seven saves in the setback.
Notes: The Bears have actually won seven straight conference tournament titles dating back to their days in the New England Women's Lacrosse Alliance (NEWLA).