By Jim Fenton, The Enterprise (Brockton)

BRIDGEWATER, Mass. -- Three weeks have gone by since the Bridgewater State University women's soccer team last allowed a goal.

The Bears are riding a five-game winning streak, with all of the victories coming by shutout, thanks to a strong defensive unit and the play of sophomore goalkeeper Lauren DeSousa of Taunton.

BSU, which has gone 455 minutes without allowing a goal, has not been scored upon since a 3-1 loss to Brandeis University on Sept. 8.

Following a 0-3 start, the Bears are 5-3, including 2-0 in the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference, heading into tonight's road game against UMass-Dartmouth.

DeSousa, a transfer from Pace University, has recorded all five shutouts and has a 0.75 goals-against average in eight games.

The Coyle-Cassidy High graduate had a 0.86 goals-against average in 17 starts for Pace as a freshman while playing in the competitive Northeast-10 Conference.

"She's very good,'' said Bears coach Yasmina Carvalho of Brockton. "I was in the Northeast-10 for 2 1/2 years (as an assistant coach at Stonehill College) and I know if she was a starting goalkeeper in that league, she's outstanding.

"I've seen that in how she's played in these eight games and made some outstanding saves.''

The BSU defenders have kept the chances of opponents to a minimum. DeSousa had to make just six saves combined in the past three victories over the Mass. College of Liberal Arts, Salve Regina and Mass. Maritime Academy.

"One of the reasons we're playing so well on defense is we're playing with more confidence knowing there is someone back there that they trust,'' said Carvalho. "You are more likely to take chances knowing that Lauren is back there.''

Carvalho credits the play of senior center backs Olivia Planty and Allison LeBel, senior outside back Carolyn Sessler of Plymouth and freshman outside back Kassidy Campbell with shutting forwards down.

The play of senior midfielder Brooke Pacheco in organizing the defense is another reason for BSU's success.

The five shutouts matched the combined total that the Bears had in 2013 and 2014.

Senior forward Marissa Yowell (four goals) and freshman midfielder Caitlin Rowley (three) have more than half of the team's 13 goals.

After losing to Babson, Wheaton and Brandeis to start the season, BSU has been rolling and hopes to finish off an impressive September tonight in Dartmouth.

"After the 0-3 start, I knew the mentality would stay positive,'' said Carvalho, now in her second season. "I told them that I believed we could go 6-0 the rest of the month. It was up to them how hard they worked.''