WORCESTER, Mass. -- The Worcester State University field hockey team posted a 4-2 victory over Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) rival Bridgewater State University on Saturday afternoon at Mazzaferro Field.

The Lancers improve to 8-6 on the season and 6-1 in the MASCAC while the Bears fall to 3-8-1 overall and 1-6 in conference play. Worcester has won each of the last five meetings of the two teams. Bridgewater State is 24-21 versus the Lancers since 1983.

Worcester led 2-0 at the break on a pair of first-half goals from junior forward Natalya Morin (Barre, Mass.) and junior midfielder Madison Avilla (Westport, Mass.). Morin potted her second goal of the afternoon 2:16 into the third quarter and senior forward Grace Adams (Leominster, Mass.) extended the Lancer lead to 4-0 less than three minutes later. Adams' goal marked her team-leading 11th of the season.

Bridgewater got on the board with just 26 seconds remaining in the third quarter. Off a penalty corner, senior midfielder Charlotte McElroy (Carver, Mass.) tipped home a shot by sophomore defender Emelia Westwater (Attleboro, Mass.) for her first goal of the 2023 campaign.

The Bears converted again off a penalty corner just over a minute into the fourth quarter to cut the deficit to 4-2. Sophomore forward Lexi James (Ipswich, Mass.) tallied her team-leading eighth goal of the season as she knocked home the rebound of a McElroy shot that rang the post.

Worcester controlled the rest of the period taking the final eight shots as the Lancers came away with the 4-2 win.

The Lancers held a 32-7 shot advantage for the game as well as a 17-7 edge in penalty corner attempts.

Worcester junior netminder Madison Ferrara (Somerset, Mass.) made three saves to record her fourth win of the season.

BSU freshman goalkeeper Kailey Hutchinson (Fall River, Mass.) kept the Bears within striking distance as she recorded a career-high 19 saves.

The MASCAC schedule continues for both teams next week. The Bears host the Corsairs of UMass Dartmouth on Tuesday night at seven o'clock while the Lancers are off until next Saturday when they travel to Fitchburg State University for an 11:00 AM game with the Falcons.