BRIDGEWATER, Mass. -- Bridgewater State University advanced to the championship game of the 2023 Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) Women's Soccer Tournament as the top-seeded Bears blanked #5 seed Fitchburg State University, 2-0, in the semifinal round on Friday night at Mazzaferro Field.

The Bears (11-5-1) advance to the MASCAC Championship Game for the first time since 2019 and 13th time in program history. Bridgewater will host #2 seed Westfield State University on Sunday afternoon at four o'clock. Westfield edged #3 seed Worcester State University in the other semifinal round matchup, 3-2, earlier today.

The Falcons end the season with an overall record of 4-11-4.

Senior forward Audra McDuffie (Millbury, Mass.) converted a penalty kick to stake the Bears to the 1-0 lead in the 26th minute. Sophomore forward Olivia Robarge (Pepperell, Mass.) drew the PK as she was taken down in the box. The goal marked the fourth of the season for McDuffie.

Fitchburg freshman netminder Madison Dawkins (Haverhill, Mass.) made an outstanding diving stop of a point-blank range shot by Robarge in the 34th minute to keep it a one-goal game.

The Bears also had a goal called back due to an offside in the 69th minute.

Less than a minute after the offside call, Robarge gave the hosts a 2-0 lead with her sixth marker of the 2023 campaign. Coming in from the right side, Robarge beat a defender one-on-one and ripped a tough angle shot that went through the goalie's hand and rolled into the back of the net.

Bridgewater held a 16-5 shot advantage for the game as well as a 3-1 edge in corner kick attempts.

BSU sophomore goalkeeper Logan Levesque (Bristol, R.I.) was forced to make just one save to record her tenth win of the season and sixth solo shutout.

Dawkins finished with nine saves in the setback for the Falcons.

Notes: Bridgewater holds a 26-4-3 advantage (17-2 at home) in the all-time series which began in 1993, including a 3-1 mark in the MASCAC Tournament.