By Jim Fenton

BRIDGEWATER, Mass. -- For the first time this season, the Bridgewater State University lacrosse team has lost back-to-back games.

The Bears driopped a tough 8-6 decision to Westfield State University Friday night at Mazzaferro Field, dropping them to 9-3 and 1-1 in the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference.

BSU never led but was within a goal in the final period at 7-6 but did not score in the final nine minutes.

It was the lowest scoring output for the Bears this season, whose previous low was 10 goals.

Senior Camryn Gonsalves (East Bridgewater, Mass.) had two of BSU's goals and reached a career milestone with her first score of the night.

Gonsalves became the 15th player in program history to reach 200 career points when she scored a second-period goal.

Gonsalves has 128 goals and 73 assists for 201 points. She has 45 goals and 22 assists in 12 games this season.

Westfield State held a 2-1 lead after one period and was up, 6-3, at halftime before the Bears moved within 6-5 going into the final 15 minutes. But BSU managed just one goal in the last period.

Senior Natalie DeMaio put the Owls (4-8, 1-1 MASCAC) up, 1-0, 2:08 into the game before BSU senior Katy Shaw (Centerville, Mass.) tied it with 4:16 left in the period.

Westfield State moved back on top with 56 seconds to go on a goal by junior Mercedes Rozzi (Burlington, Vt.).

Graduate student Kylie Buchanan (Westfield, Mass.) gave the Owls a 3-1 lead with 10:41 remaining in the half, but Gonsalves' goal with 8:08 to go and a score by graduate student Savannah Herrington (Kinnelon, N.J.) tied it with 5:07 left.

The Owls scored three times in the final 3:11 for the 6-3 halftime edge, getting goals from DeMaio, senior Mykenzie Black (Hopedale, Mass.) and senior Emma Prattson (Tolland, Conn.).

Gonsalves scored for the Bears with 8:45 left in the third period before senior Erin McIntyre (Tewksbury, Mass.) pulled BSU within 6-5 with 7:05 remaining in the period.

Buchanan opened the scoring in the final period to push the Owls up, 7-5, but BSU graduate student Riley Bina (Abington, Mass.) scored with 9:33 remaining.

Westfield State sealed it with 2:54 left on a Buchanan goal.

Freshman goalkeeper Sara Skaff (Lowell, Mass.) had 10 saves for the Bears. Graduate student Kara Banagan (Niskayuna, N.Y.) had 14 stops for the Owls.

BSU had an edge in shots on goal, 20-18, and groundballs, 25-20. Westfield finished with a slight 9-8 edge in draw controls.

Both teams struggled on the free position as the Bears went 0-for-5 and the Owls converted just 1 of 5 attempts.

The Bears are idle until Saturday, April 12 when it travels to Fitchburg State University.

Westfield State plays at Springfield College on Thursday at 6 p.m.