BRIDGEWATER, Mass. -- Sophomore forward Bethany Bush (Littleton, MA) tallied a pair of goals and assisted on the eventual game-winner to lead the Bridgewater State College field hockey team to a 3-2 victory over Westfield State in a Little East Conference clash at Swenson Field.
With the key conference win, the Bears improve to 4-6 on the season and more importantly 3-2 in the Little East standings. Westfield dips to 4-5 overall and 1-4 in conference play.
Bush continued her recent scoring spree as she has four goals and two assists over the last three games. Bush gave BSC a quick 1-0 lead as she potted her fifth goal of the season less than three minutes into the contest off an assist from junior forward Stephanie Barry (Pembroke, MA).
Bush would increase the lead to 2-0 in the 16th minute notching her team-leading sixth goal of the season with the assist going to sophomore midfielder Jenny Jackson (Somerset, MA). Bush would return the favor early in the second half assisting on Jackson's second goal of the season to give the the Bears a 3-0 lead in the 39th minute.
Westfield would not go down quietly as the Owls cut the deficit to 3-2 on consecutive goals by senior forward Kara Guittarr (Dedham, MA) and senior midfielder Vicky Winson (Upton, MA). Winson's goal, coming in the 68th minute, came off a penalty corner with the assist going to sophomore midfielder Alicia Gardner (Athol, MA).
Bridgewater held a 14-7 advantage in shots including a 7-1 edge in the first half. Westfield did not get a shot on goal over the first 35 minutes, but put all six of their second half shots on frame. BSC sophomore netminder Katie Weber (Arlington, MA) made four saves in the game with all of them coming in the final stanza. Westfield freshman goaltender Amanda McCarthy (Franklin, MA) made eight saves between the pipes for the Owls.
The Bears will entertain Keene State College on Thursday afternoon at 4 PM in another key Little East Conference game. Westfield State travels to Smith College on Thursday (6:00) for a non-conference game with the Pioneers.