BRIDGEWATER, Mass. – Second-seeded Bridgewater State University posted a 10-6 victory over #3 Fitchburg State University in the semifinal round of the 2016 Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) Women's Lacrosse Tournament on Thursday evening at rain-soaked Swenson Field.

The Bears improve to 11-5 on the season and will advance to their ninth consecutive tournament championships game. Bridgewater will travel to top-seeded Westfield State University on Saturday. Game time is slated for 7:00 PM. The Owls edged #4 Worcester State University in the other semifinal round match-up this evening.

The Falcons fall to 14-5 overall and will await word on a possible ECAC Division III New England Tournament selection.

Senior midfielder Lauren Geary (Hull, Mass.) paced the Bears with two goals, three assists and a game-best 11 draw controls, while senior attack Marissa Yowell (Ashland, Mass.) and junior midfielder Melissa Renauld (Framingham, Mass.) each notched a game-high four goals.

The Bears led 7-3 at the intermission as Renauld and Yowell each potted three goals over the first 30 minutes, while Geary contributed a goal and three assists. Yowell's second goal of the contest marked the 100th of her career.

The Falcons kept the Bears off the scoreboard for nearly ten minutes to start the second half. A goal by junior attack Kayla Panek (Belchertown, Mass.) and back-to-back strikes by junior attack Ali Laferriere (Tyngsboro, Mass.) to open the final stanza pulled the visitors to within 7-5.

Out of a well-needed timeout, Bridgewater received goals by Geary and Yowell to push the advantage back up to 9-5 with 14:13 remaining.

The Falcons also answered out of timeout as junior midfielder Andrea Comeau (Watertown, Mass.) found the back of the net at the 13:17 mark to cut the deficit to 9-6.

Neither team scored over the next ten minutes as both keepers made a handful of key stops.

Renauld potted a key insurances marker with 2:42 remaining to put the finishing touches on the win.

BSU junior netminder Allie Forman (Marblehead, Mass.) turned aside seven shots to record her tenth win of the season.

The Bears held a decided 15-3 advantage in draw controls as well as a slight 20-19 edge in shots.

Laferriere paced the Falcons with three goals, while senior goaltender Liz Darrigo (Billerica, Mass.) made six saves.

Bridgewater State is in search of its ninth consecutive conference championship dating back to when the teams played in the New England Women's Lacrosse Association (NEWLA) until 2013.