By Jim Fenton
BRIDGEWATER, Mass. -- Here's a look at the week ahead (Sept. 23-29) for the Bridgewater State University athletics teams as the opening month of the fall semester winds down:
MONDAY
VOLLEYBALL, at Curry College, 6:00 PM: The Bears (2-6) play two more non-conference matches this week before starting the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference schedule next week.
BSU has been idle since a 3-0 win over Nichols College last Wednesday night.
This is the first meeting between the Bears and the Colonels (0-9) since a 3-1 BSU win in the Hall of Fame Invitational at Northampton on Oct. 20, 2017. It is the Bears' first trip to Milton since a 3-1 loss on Oct. 11, 2016.
TUESDAY
WOMEN'S TENNIS, at Western Connecticut State, 3:30 PM: BSU travels to Danbury, Conn., for a Little East Conference match with the Wolves (3-4, 1-1).
The Bears (3-1, 1-1 Little East) have not played since a Sept. 14 win over Southern Maine.
BSU and Western Connecticut State split a pair of matches in 2023 with the Bears winning, 5-4, in the regular season and losing by the same score in the quarterfinal round of the conference tournament.
WEDNESDAY
WOMEN'S SOCCER, at Roger Williams, 4:00 PM: After starting the MASCAC season over the weekend, the Bears head to Bayside Field in Bristol, R.I., for a non-conference match with the Hawks (5-2-1).
BSU (3-2-1) is 10-10-1 in the all-time series with Roger Williams but has dropped nine of the last 11 matchups, including a 2-0 loss last year.
This is the first of three straight road games for the Bears.
FIELD HOCKEY, at Anna Maria, 5:00 PM: The Bears are on the road, taking on the AMCATS at Caparso Field in Paxton.
BSU (2-3) started the MASCAC season with a win over Salem State on Saturday. Anna Maria is off to an 0-6 start.
The two teams have played in each of the past 12 seasons with the Bears holding a 7-5 edge, including a 5-0 win last Sept. 14.
MEN'S SOCCER, Roger Williams at home, 7:00 PM: The Bears face the Hawks in a non-conference match at Mazzaferro field. BSU is off to a 2-2-2 start while Roger Williams is 5-2-1.
The Bears are 11-12-5 against the Hawks since 1980 and have not won in the series since 2016 in overtime.
The teams played to a 1-1 tie a year ago.
THURSDAY
WOMEN'S TENNIS, at Roger Williams, 4:00 PM: The Bears are in Bristol, R.I., for a non-conference match with the Hawks (5-2).
BSU has lost eight in a row to Roger Williams and is 4-13 in the series since 2005. The Bears lost to the Hawks, 8-1, a year ago.
VOLLEYBALL, at Mitchell College, 7:00 PM: BSU travels to New London, Conn., for a first-ever meeting with the Mariners at the Yarnall Athletic Center.
Mitchell, which went from the junior college level to NCAA Division 3 nearly 20 years ago, is off to a 3-6 start and plays in the Great Northeast Athletic Conference.
FRIDAY
FIELD HOCKEY, at Worcester State, 7:00 PM: The Bears have lost five in a row to the Lancers, including a 4-2 decision last season.
BSU is 24-21 against Worcester State (0-6) since 1983.
SATURDAY
WOMEN'S SOCCER, at Fitchburg State, 11:00 AM: The Bears close out September with their second MASCAC game.
BSU owns a 26-4-3 record against the Falcons (0-6) since the series began in 1993. The Bears won twice over Fitchburg State by 2-0 scores, including in the semifinal round of the conference tourney.
FOOTBALL, Framingham State at home, Noon: After playing two straight games on the road, the Bears (0-3) return to Mazzaferro Field for two consecutive home games.
BSU defeated the Rams, 21-7, last season and owns a 34-16 record over Framingham State (0-3) since they started playing in 1973.
MEN'S SOCCER, Fitchburg State at home, 5:00 PM: The Falcons (3-3-2) will be at Mazzaferro Field as the Bears play the second of three straight home games.
BSU is 26-14-7 against Fitchburg State, which tied the Bears, 1-1, last season. That is the only MASCAC game BSU did not win in 2023.