By Jim Fenton

WENHAM, Mass. -- The Bridgewater State University women's soccer team opened October by climbing above the .500 mark.

The Bears defeated Gordon College, 3-1, in a non-conference match on Wednesday night at the Brigham Athletic Complex.

BSU improved to 4-3-2 while the Fighting Scots, a member of the Conference of New England, fell to 5-3-1 after having a three-game winning streak stopped.

The teams met for only the second time with the Bears winning the previous meeting, 1-0, in Bridgewater five years ago.

Bears senior goalkeeper Tori Gemellaro (Wilmington, Mass.) recorded the win in her first start of the season and third of her career.

Gemellaro made eight saves and the only score by Gordon came on an own goal in the second half.

BSU scored the only goal of the first half, then added two more in the second half to open a 3-0 lead over Gordon.

Graduate student Emily McCormack (East Bridgewater, Mass.) gave the Bears the lead when she scored with 25:32 remaining in the opening half.

After a long kick by Gordon was taken by BSU, McCormack was sent in one-on-one against the goalkeeper with a long pass from senior Makenna Lessard (East Bridgewater, Mass.), and she scored her third goal.

Just one minute into the second half, sophomore Natalie Mattos (Fairhaven, Mass.) made it 2-0 with her second goal of the season.

A throw-in from the left side went to the right side of the goal where Mattos moved in and scored with a shot into the left side of the net.

BSU upped the margin to 3-0 at 65:28 on a goal by sophomore Caroline McCormack (East Bridgewater, Mass.), who scored after getting behind the defense and putting a high shot in.

McCormack outraced the Gordon players to get in position for her first collegiate goal. The play was set up by junior Olivia Robarge (Pepperell, Mass.).

Gordon scored at 66:02 on an own goal as a BSU player, attempting to clear the ball from in front of the goal, headed it into the net.

Gemellaro made several stops in front of the goal to help record the win. Sophomore Eowyn Lapp (Saratoga Springs, N.Y.) had four shots on goal against the BSU keeper.

Gordon goalkeeper Emily Bengston (Anthem, Ariz.) made one save as the Bears had four shots on goal.

BSU returns to Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference play on Saturday, hosting Framingham State University at noon at Mazzaferro Field.

Gordon will host Roger Williams on Saturday at noon.