BRIDGEWATER, Mass. -- Bridgewater State University senior defender Samantha Tomaszewski (Sterling, Mass.) has been selected as the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) Women's Soccer Defensive Player of the Year to highlight the Bears' eight representatives on the 2021 All-MASCAC Women's Soccer Team.
Joining Tomaszewski on the All-MASCAC First Team from Bridgewater State are senior midfielder Delaney Langton (Scituate, R.I.), senior goalkeeper Tory Viola-Laughery (Brockton, Mass.) and junior midfielder Michelle Belcher (Norton, Mass.). Senior midfielder Cassie Brown (Augusta, Maine), sophomore defender Megan Keller (Northborough, Mass.), sophomore forward Audra McDuffie (Millbury, Mass.) and freshman defender Natasha Barnes (Gardner, Mass.) garnered All-MASCAC Second Team honors.
Brown and Tomaszewski are both making their second appearance on the All-MASCAC Team. Brown earned first team accolades in 2019, while Tomaszewski was named to the second team in 2019. Langton was named the MASCAC Rookie of the Year in 2018.
Tomaszewski, Keller and Barnes led an outstanding BSU defensive effort in 2021. As a team, the Bears topped the MASCAC in both fewest goals allowed (20) and fewest shots on goal allowed (95), and tied for second in the conference with seven shutouts.
Tomaszewski, who started all 18 games, finished the season with two goals and a pair of assists for six points. Keller checked in with a goal and three helpers.
Viola-Laughery started all 18 games in her first season as the Bears starting netminder as she posted a 1.11 goals against average with 73 saves and a .785 save percentage. Viola-Laughery led the MASCAC in shutouts with seven and in minutes played (1627:01). She also ranked second in both games played and goals against average, and tied for second in wins (9).
Belcher tallied 11 goals and six assists for 28 points in her first season with the Bears after transferring from Millersville University. She finished second among the MASCAC leaders in game-winning goals with five, ranked third in both goals and points, and tied for fourth in assists. Belcher was named to the All-Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) East First Team while a freshman at Millersville in 2019.
Langton notched three goals and four assists for 11 points. She tied for fourth in the MASCAC in assists and tied for ninth in game-winning goals (1). Brown checked in with one assist on the season.
Belcher, Langton and Brown started all 18 games in the Bears’ midfield.
McDuffie recorded seven goals and six assist for 20 points in 17 games. She tied for third in the MASCAC with a pair of game-winning goals and ranked fourth in scoring. McDuffie also tied for fourth among the conference leaders in assists and tied for fifth in goals.
The BSU women’s soccer team posted an overall record of 9-8-1 in 2021. Seeded third in the MASCAC Tournament with a 5-1-1 conference mark, the Bears posted a 2-1 victory over #6 Fitchburg State University in the quarterfinal round before dropping a 3-2 semifinal round decision to second-seeded Worcester State University.