WORCESTER, Mass. – The visiting Bridgewater State University women's lacrosse team scored the final seven goals of the contest as the Bears outlasted Worcester State University, 20-15, in a Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) contest on Saturday afternoon at John F. Coughlin Field.
The Bears improve to 7-4 on the season and 2-1 in the MASCAC, while the host Lancers fall to 7-3 overall and 2-1 in conference play.
Senior midfielder Elizabeth Ettridge (Marshfield, Mass.) scored a career-high eight goals for Bridgewater State, while junior midfielder Victoria McDonough (Marshfield, Mass.) notched two goals and dished out a season-high seven assists to go along with a game-high 11 draw controls.
Junior attack Hayley White (Dracut, Mass.) added a career-high five goals and dished out a pair of assists for the Bears, while senior midfielder Lisa Moynihan (Norwood, Mass.) and freshman attack Katherine Tracy (Marion, Mass.) notched four points (2G, 2A) apiece.
BSU junior netminder Hayley Barner (Westwood, Mass.) turned aside ten shots as she became the seventh goalkeeper in BSU women's lacrosse history to reach the 300-save milestone.
Neither team held a decided edge in the game's opening 30 minutes, but the Bears headed to the break with a narrow 10-9 lead. Sophomores Abby Magnuson (Ellington, Conn.), Kylie Hill (Lunenburg, Mass.), and Coley Hayes (Norwood, Mass.), as well as freshman Madison Brennan (Pomfret, Conn.), all scored a pair of first half goals for Worcester State, with Rachel Hopkins (Chelmsford, Mass.) adding one tally. Ettridge and White each netted first half hat tricks to lead the Bears.
A pair of Magnuson goals highlighted a 4-0 Worcester State run to open the second half, giving the hosts its largest lead of the game at 13-10 with 20:53 remaining in regulation. Bridgewater responded less than a minute later, however, with Ettridge and Tracy scoring 19 seconds apart to cut the deficit to 13-12.
After a pair of Ann Maher (Mansfield, Mass.) gave Worcester State a 15-13 lead with 14:59 remaining, Bridgewater State kicked it into another gear to end the contest scoring seven unanswered goals including three by Ettridge and two by White. A man-up goal by Tracy with 9:32 remaining proved to be the game-winner and the Bears played keep away in the final minutes to secure the victory.
Bridgewater State finished with a 22-14 advantage in draw controls led by McDonough's 11 and a career-high nine from sophomore midfielder Emily Hiller (Marion, Mass.).
The Lancers will be back in action on Tuesday with a 6 p.m. start at MCLA. Bridgewater State will be back in action the same evening (7 p.m.) with a non-conference road trip to Roger Williams University.