BRIDGEWATER, Mass. – Senior midfielder Shelby Farland (Fiskdale, Mass.) tallied a career high four goals to go along with an assist, while junior forward Demi Miskiv (Centerville, Mass.) notched her second hat trick of the season, to lead the Bridgewater State University field hockey team to a decisive 8-1 victory over Little East Conference foe Fitchburg State University on Saturday afternoon at Swenson Field.

The host Bears improve to 6-1 on the season and 3-0 in the Little East, while the Falcons slip to 4-3 overall and 1-2 in conference play.

Bridgewater scored the first four goals of the contest and led 6-1 at the intermission.  After Farland gave the Bears a 1-0 lead just 7:05 into the game, Miskiv followed with a natural hat trick scoring three consecutive goals in a span of three minutes and twenty-two seconds. 

Fitchburg senior forward Jamie Kelley (Pepperell, Mass.) cut the deficit to 4-1 with an unassisted tally in the 24th minute, but Farland responded with back-to-back goals at 26:37 and 30:03 as the Bears headed into halftime with a commanding lead.

Farland connected on a penalty stroke goal in the 49th minute and junior forward Carissa Vizakis (Bellingham, Mass.) knocked home a goal line pass from senior forward Beth Phillips (Worcester, Mass.) in the 57th minute to round out the scoring in the second half.

Farland leads the team in scoring with ten goals and seven assists for 19 points, while Miskiv is second with 19 points on nine goals and one assist.

With her assist on Miskiv's first goal of the afternoon, Farland moved into a tie for fourth place on the Bears all-time list with 19 helpers.  Former Bear Andrea Erickson also recorded 19 assists from 1986 to 1989.  Farland now has 95 points (38G, 19A) in her career as she is closing in on the 100-point milestone.

Bridgewater held a 25-4 shot advantage for the game as well as a 14-3 edge in penalty corners.

BSU senior netminder Cassie Johansen (Port Jefferson Station, N.Y.) played the first half to record her sixth win of the season between the pipes.  Junior keeper Kacie Sturgeon (Dartmouth, Mass.) came on to start the second stanza and blanked the Falcons over the final 35 minutes.

Fitchburg sophomore Lucy Holewa (Londonderry, N.H.) and freshman Judith Valentin (Brockton, Mass.) combined to make ten saves in goal for the Falcons.

In upcoming action, Bridgewater hits the road for a Sunday afternoon game with non-conference foe Wheaton College tomorrow at one.  Fitchburg hosts Little East rival Eastern Connecticut State University on Wednesday evening at six.