DARTMOUTH, Mass. -- Sophomore defender Kaitlyn Bongarzone (Mansfield, Mass.) and sophomore midfielder Emma Sanders (Seekonk, Mass.) each scored to lead the visiting Bridgewater State University women's soccer team to a 2-0 shutout victory over UMass Dartmouth on Thursday night at Cressy Field.
The Bears, who have won five of their last six games, improve to 5-4 on the season. The host Corsairs fall to 2-7-1 with the setback.
Bongarzone scored on a direct kick to break a scoreless tie in the 59th minute. Her strike from 40 yards out went over the extended reach of the leaping UMass netminder and just under the cross bar. The goal marked the first of Bongarzone's career.
Sanders notched her second goal of the 2017 campaign in the 83rd minute to extend the Bears' lead to 2-0. Junior defender Caitlin Rowley (Lakeville, Mass.) set up the goal with a crossing pass from the left side. Sanders turned and fired a shot inside the right post from 12 yards out.
Earlier in the half, Sanders' penalty kick bid was turned aside by UMass freshman netminder Jaimee O'Brien (West Springfield, Mass.).
The BSU defense limited UMass to just nine shots and only two on frame. The Bears held an 18-9 shot advantage as well as a 10-2 edge in corner kick attempts.
Senior goalkeeper Lauren DeSousa (Taunton, Mass.) made two saves as she recorded her fifth win and third shutout of the season. DeSousa now has 22 wins and 20 1/2 shutouts in three seasons with the Bears. She is within one shutout of BSU Hall of Famer Tracey Ullathorne's (1992-1995) all-time program mark of 21 1/2 set in 1995.
O'Brien finished with eight saves in the setback for the Corsairs.
The Bears host MASCAC foe Fitchburg State University on Saturday at 5:00 PM. The Corsairs entertain Little East rival Western Connecticut State University on Saturday afternoon at one.