BRIDGEWATER, Mass. -- The Bridgewater State University field hockey team clinched a spot in next week's Little East Conference Tournament as the Bears edged the Vikings of Salem State University, 2-1, on Saturday afternoon at Swenson Field.

Bridgewater (8-10, 5-6 LEC) is seeded sixth in the conference tournament and will travel to #3 Keene State College on Tuesday for a quarterfinal round contest. Game time is slated for 6:00 PM. Salem ends the season with a record of 3-14 (1-10 LEC).

Junior midfielder Brittany Cullinane (Lunenburg, Mass.) and senior forward Brittney Field (Hubbardston, Mass.) scored for the Bears who trailed 1-0 early in the second half.

After a scoreless opening stanza, senior forward Angela Montano (Saugus, Mass.) put the Vikings on the board in the 45th minute of play. Montano knocked down a cross from sophomore forward Courtney Smith (Peabody, Mass.) and buried a shot into the left side of the net to give Salem the 1-0 advantage.

That lead was short-lived, however, as Cullinane potted her team-best tenth goal of the season just over three minutes later. Cullinane stick-handled around a defender and beat the Salem keeper one-on-one.

Field notched the game-winner in the 64th minute as she tipped home a shot by senior forward Marinna Emond (Seekonk, Mass.).

The Bears held a 22-10 shot advantage for the game as well as an 11-7 edge in penalty corners. Cullinane led all players with six shots including four on frame.

BSU junior goaltender Kaylyn Allahyarian (Norwell, Mass.) made three saves to record her seventh win of the season. Junior netminder Carolyn Woodin (Arlington, Mass.) played well in the setback for the Vikings as she turned aside ten shots. 

Prior to the game, the Bears held a Senior Day ceremony as the team honored Field, Emond and fellow seniors Molly Bennett (Ashland, Mass.), Mary Dubin (Holden, Mass.), Kelsey Kiely (Mansfield, Mass.), Alison Loranger (East Freetown, Mass.), Emily Mosca (Dedham, Mass.) and Mary Roche (Arlington, Mass.).