BRISTOL, R.I. – The visiting Bridgewater State University women's soccer team battled back from a two-goal deficit in the second half as the Bears edged Roger Williams University, 5-4, on Wednesday night at Bayside Field.
The Bears, who were ranked fourth in the most recent Division III Region II Poll, improve to 6-2-1 on the season, while the Hawks fall to 4-6. Bridgewater now holds a 10-9-1 lead in the all-time series.
Senior forward Michelle Belcher (Norton, Mass.) tallied two goals and a pair of assists to lead the way for the Bears, while junior midfielder Sydney Dewhurst (East Bridgewater, Mass.) potted the game-winning goal. Sophomore midfielder Sydney Sousa (Dartmouth, Mass.) also scored twice for the visitors.
With her six-point performance, Belcher became the 12th student-athlete in BSU women's soccer history to reach the 50-point milestone. She now has 19 goals and 12 assists for 50 points in 27 games over two seasons with the Bears.
Belcher opened the scoring in the seventh minute when she collected the rebound of a Makenna Lessard (East Bridgewater, Mass.) shot and easily deposited the ball into the wide-open net.
RWU senior forward Leah Yucius (Duxbury, Mass.) tucked shot under the crossbar from just outside the 18 to knot the score at 1-1 in the tenth minute.
An own goal gave the Hawks a 2-1 lead in the 17th minute. A BSU defender inadvertently headed a Roger Williams' corner kick just inside the far post.
Belcher tied the game at 2-2 in the 27th minute as she dribbled past two defenders on the left side and beat the RWU netminder with a goal line shot just inside the far post.
Senior forward Bianca Robbins (Johnston, R.I.) capped off the first half scoring in the 37th minute. Robbins got behind the BSU defense following a misplayed clearance and beat the keeper one-on-one.
The Hawks made it a 4-2 game in the 55th minute. Freshman netminder Logan Levesque (Bristol, R.I.) made the initial diving stop on a Bianca Robbins' shot. The ball caromed off the crossbar and freshman midfielder Julia Robbins (Johnston, R.I.) tapped the ball into the open cage.
Sousa began the BSU comeback as she headed home a crossing pass from Belcher in the 62nd minute to cut the deficit to 4-3. Sousa then potted the equalizer in the 65th minute as she collected a loose ball inside the 18 and drove a shot under the crossbar from 12 yards out.
As the clock ticked under seven minutes, Belcher sent a corner kick into the six and Dewhurst drove a header under the crossbar to give the Bears a 5-4 lead.
The Bears limited the Hawks to just one shot on frame over the final 30 minutes, with Levesque making an easy stop to secure the victory.
Levesque made three saves on the evening to record her sixth win of the season. The rookie keeper's biggest stop came in the 58th minute as she knocked one over the crossbar with the Bears staring at a two-goal deficit.
Bridgewater held a slight 11-10 shot advantage for the game while corner kicks were even at four apiece.
Freshman goalkeeper Bailey Bourque (Litchfield, N.H.) turned aside three shots in the setback for the Hawks.
Both teams are back in action on Saturday afternoon. The Bears travel to Fitchburg State University for a noontime Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) game with Falcons, while the Hawks head to Suffolk University to take on the Rams at three o'clock in a Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) matchup.