By Jim Fenton

BRIDGEWATER, Mass. -- There has been a different look to the Bridgewater State University field hockey season this fall.

After competing in the Little East Conference for 23 years, the Bears are now solely part of the six-team Massachusetts Collegiate Athletic Conference.

BSU, Salem State University, Westfield State University, Worcester State University, Fitchburg State University and Framingham State University ended their stay in the Little East following the 2022 season.

The Bears and those five other teams will be taking part in the MASCAC tournament, which opens Wednesday, with the champion receiving an automatic berth in the NCAA Division 3 tourney.

Sixth-seeded BSU will be on the road to play third-seeded Framingham State at 7:00 p.m. in the quarterfinal round.

BSU and the five other MASCAC teams were affiliates in the Little East, which consisted of 13 field hockey teams. The Little East now has seven teams.

Only one of the MASCAC schools won the Little East tournament with Worcester State defeating Keene State, 6-0, in the 2019 final.

Bridgewater State's best showing in more than two decades was a trip to the final round in 2010 where the Bears lost to UMass Dartmouth, 3-1.

Worcester State (2001) plus Westfield State (2005 and 2017) were the only other MASCAC teams to advance to the Little East tourney final round.

Competing only against MASCAC teams for the conference championship and a trip to the NCAAs is a boost for the state school's field hockey programs.

"For us, the Little East was a big conference with 13 teams in it, and there are well established field hockey teams like Plymouth State and Keene State there," said BSU second-year coach Ashley Bishop. "It was tough for us. The MASCAC is a better fit with more comparable teams.

"You can see by the scores this season. Unfortunately, we haven't come out on the positive end of a lot of these games. But there have been a lot of close games and games that went to overtime. Most games are decided by one or two goals.It's a very evenly matched conference now."

Bishop is the third BSU coach in six seasons, taking over in the summer of 2022.

The Bears won just one of 12 games in the Little East a year ago and went 2-15 overall.

"Last year was really tough," said Bishop. "I came on basically for preseason and really didn't know any of the players. It was like starting from scratch."

This season, BSU (4-11-1 overall, 1-9 in the conference) lost four of its MASCAC games by just one goal, including a 3-2 overtime decision to Salem State, and had four two-goal losses.

After adding six freshmen to the program in 2022 and five more this season, Bishop sees promise for the future as the young players gain experience.

"We had a big group of freshmen last year and put together a good foundation and we've got five more this year," said Bishop, who played field hockey at Assumption and coached at her alma mater, Barnstable High. "It's been kind of a slow turnaround for us. But even though the record isn't great, it feels like we've made progress this year."

Sophomore Lexi James (Ipswich, Mass.) has been the top offensive player with team highs of nine goals and 21 points while being tied with three assists.

"Lexi James has been good," said Bishop. "She has incredible speed. From last year to this year, she's learned the college level of play and adapted better and has been effective."

Also contributing offensively have been freshman Madison Ellis (Attleboro, Mass.) with four goals and three assists, sophomore Raegan Perry (Nantucket, Mass.) with four goals and an assist, sophomore Brianna Gagnon (Tewksbury, Mass.) with five goals, and graduate student Jordyn Perry (Nantucket, Mass.) and senior Zoe Bergeron (Blackstone, Mass.) with three goals and two assists each.

Bishop said that sophomore Emelia Westwater (Attleboro, Mass.) "has a really high field hockey IQ and has been effective,'' while senior Erin Power (Byfield, Mass.) has been a leader on defense.

The Bears will get their first taste of postseason since 2018 when it takes part in the MASCAC tourney.

"The experience will be good, no matter what happens," said Bishop. "Hopefully, it just makes them hungry.

"We could peak (in the tourney). Anyone could win. It's not like the No. 1 team has it locked up because all the games have been super close in the conference."

Six seniors are on the roster, including Bergeron, Power, Charlotte McElroy (Carver, Mass.), Alexis Giesta (Fall River, Mass.), Carolyn Greendale (Natick, Mass.) and Kelly Sharkey (Salisbury, Mass.).

BSU is looking to use this season as a stepping stone and continue to move forward in 2024.

"It's super encouraging after two years," said Bishop. "It's a tight group. They get along. They're adaptable and they work hard. It's going to be really good for us. I'm excited about that.

"Looking from last year to this year, it's better. We're trending upwards."