By Scott Souza, The Waltham News Tribune

WALTHAM, Mass. -- Waltham High alumna Olivia Creonte thought she was done with competitive soccer following her senior season with the Hawks.

The 2010 WHS graduate was headed to the University of New Hampshire where her passion for the sport would take an inevitable backseat to other interests at the Division I school.

"I just wanted to experience something new and go to a big school," she recalled. "Then I realized I did not like that at all. I decided to transfer. I wanted to keep playing soccer."

So Creonte transferred to Bridgewater State University where she resumed her career on the pitch for the Bears. Three years later, she is still playing for the Massachusetts State Collegiate Conference title contender, and last week returned to her hometown to play a final time when BSU traveled to Waltham to take on Brandeis.

"It was actually really exciting because I knew a lot of people were coming to see me," she said. "I was happy to see my family here."

The forward/midfielder checked into the game for the first time about 10 minutes after the start and played the remainder of the first half. She was part of several good scoring chances for the Bears as they battled the 10th-ranked Division III team in the country to a scoreless tie into the break.

Brandeis then pulled away for a 3-0 victory with a trio of second-half goals.

"It really helps us because they’re very aggressive," Creonte said of the competition. "They’re not in our league so it helps us just become stronger for the teams we will be playing.

"Two years ago, we played them here and we actually beat them. We were hoping to do the same this time but … not quite."

The Bears made it to the MASCAC title game last year before losing to Westfield in a season in which Creonte found the back of the net three times. BSU was picked third in this year’s preseason poll.

The physical education major, who was named to the MASCAC All-Academic team last fall, said she is happy with her decision to resume her soccer career and take it to the next level at college.

"I just started playing summer soccer that year and got right back into it," she said. "It wasn’t that hard.

"I would say college soccer is a lot more intense, a lot more fast-paced. The teams are just a lot better than high school."

The Division III competition in New England doesn’t get much more intense than Babson and Brandeis – BSU’s first two opponents this fall. Creonte’s Bears had two more non-league games remaining – against Plymouth State on Saturday (a game they won, 2-1) and Rhode Island College Wednesday – before beginning MASCAC play against Framingham State at home this Saturday.

"We made it to the championship game and lost last year and I am hoping to do the same this year," Creonte said, "and this time win it."