FRAMINGHAM, Mass. -- Junior midfielder Jade Franzen (Mansfield, MA) scored the game winner off a penalty corner in the 53rd minute to lift the Framingham State College field hockey team to a key 1-0 Little East Conference (LEC) win over the Bridgewater State Bears. With the win, the Rams improve to 4-4 in conference and 9-5 overall, while the Bears are 6-8 overall and 5-4 in conference.
After a scoreless first half that saw the Rams out shoot the Bears 10-5, Bridgewater State opened the second half strong. Their best scoring opportunity came with 30 minutes left in the game as they caught the Rams goalie Allesha Kenyon (Westford, MA) out of the net. Sophomore midfielder Jenny Jackson (Somerset, MA) had a clear shot at the net, but Rams sophomore defender Andrea DiTerlizzi knocked the ball away just before it crossed the goal line.
The Rams offense came alive and had several opportunities to get on the board. Junior defender Kelly Downs (Hanover, MA) made a defensive save on Rams forward Kristen Sacco's (Mendon, MA) shot attempt with just over 20 minutes left to play to keep the game scoreless. Less than three minutes later however, Franzen blasted a shot off a penalty corner for the game winner.
Kenyon earned her second shutout win of the season as she made seven saves on the day, while Katie Weber (Arlington, MA) made 12 saves for the Bears.
Both teams return to action on Saturday as the Rams host UMass Dartmouth at 3:30 p.m., and the Bears travel to Southern Maine at 2 p.m.