BRIDGEWATER, Mass. -- The visiting Fitchburg State University field hockey team posted a 2-1 Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) win over Bridgewater State University in the regular season finale for both teams on Friday night at Mazzaferro Field. The game also marked Senior Night for the host Bears.

The Falcons improve to 4-12 on the season and 3-7 in the MASCAC while the Bears fall to 4-11-1 overall and 1-9 in conference play. The two teams split the season series as the Bears earned a 5-2 win earlier this year out in Fitchburg. Bridgewater is 28-10-1 all-time (13-6-1 at home) versus the Falcons.

Senior defender Erin Power (Byfield, Mass.) potted her first collegiate goal to get the Bears on the board with 2:26 remaining in the first quarter. The strike came off a penalty corner as Power blasted a shot inside the left post from the top of the circle. Senior midfielder Charlotte McElroy (Carver, Mass.), who took the corner, picked up the assist.

Fitchburg sophomore defender Samantha Yates (Woodstock, Vt.) converted a penalty stroke with 3:01 left to play in the third quarter to knot the score at 1-1. For Yates, the goal marked her second of the 2023 campaign.

Senior midfielder Joyce Arbia (Sag Harbor, N.Y.) gave the Falcons a 2-1 lead with six minutes remaining in the fourth quarter. Off a scramble in front of the net, Arbia tucked a shot into the left side of the cage for her third goal of the season.

Bridgewater held an 18-15 shot advantage for the game as well as an 8-6 edge in penalty corner attempts.

Senior goalkeeper Jenna Morse (Leominster, Mass.) made nine saves to earn her fourth win of the season between the pipes for the Falcons. Freshman netminder Kailey Hutchinson (Attleboro, Mass.) turned aside seven shots in the setback for the Bears who also received a pair of defensive saves from Power and sophomore defender Emelia Westwater (Attleboro, Mass.).

Prior to the start of the game, the Bears honored Power, McElroy and fellow seniors Zoe Bergeron (Blackstone, Mass.), Alexis Giesta (Fall River, Mass.), Carolyn Greendale (Natick, Mass.) and Kelly Sharkey (Salisbury, Mass.).

Both teams will compete in the quarterfinal round of the MASCAC Tournament next Wednesday. Tournament pairings will be determined after this weekend's slate of games.