By Jim Fenton
BRIDGEWATER, Mass. -- Here's a look at the week ahead (Nov. 4 - Nov. 10) for the Bridgewater State University athletics teams:
TUESDAY
FIELD HOCKEY, at Framingham State, 7:00 PM: The Bears and Rams meets for the second year in a row in the opening round of the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference tournament.
Framingham State edged BSU, 3-2, a year ago, scoring the game's final two goals.
Fifth-seeded BSU (8-10) went 4-6 in the conference while fourth-seeded Framingham State (8-10) finished 5-5.
The Rams swept the season series, winning, 2-1, on the road on Oct. 1 and edged the Bears, 3-2, in overtime on Oct. 26 to stop BSU's four-game winning streak.
The winner advances to the semifinal round on Thursday against either top-seeded Fitchburg State (10-8, 8-2) or second-seeded Westfield State (11-8, 7-3).
FRIDAY
MEN'S SOCCER, vs. TBD, at home, 3:30 PM: The defending champion Bears open the MASCAC tournament at Mazzaferro Field in a semifinal-round game.
BSU (10-5-2, 6-1 conference) will play the lowest remaining seed, either fourth-seeded Worcester State (4-9-2, 2-2-3), fifth-seeded Salem State (5-7-5, 2-3-2) or sixth-seeded. Mass. Maritime (3-11-1, 2-4-1), in the semifinal round on Friday afternoon at Mazzaferro Field. Those three teams will compete in the tournament's opening round on Wednesday.
The Bears shut out Worcester State, 4-0, on Sept. 21, blanked Salem State, 1-0, on Oct. 12 and edged Mass. Maritime, 2-1, on Oct. 18.
BSU won its first tournament title since 2018 last season.
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL, at Bryant University, 5:00 PM: The Bears open the 2024-25 season in Rhode Island against the Division 1 Bulldogs.
BSU coach Bridgett Casey, now in her 28th year, played four seasons at Bryant in a career that ended in 1993. Her first coaching job was at Bryant, which was in the Northeast-10 Conference at the time.
BSU and Bryant met for the first time a year ago with the Bears losing, 98-68, on Dec. 30 at the Chace Athletic Center.
MEN'S BASKETBALL, vs. St. Joseph's of Maine at Norton, 5:00 PM: The Bears play their opener at the Wheaton College Tip-off Classic.
BSU is picked to win the MASCAC title after getting to the championship game a year ago.
St. Joseph's made it to the championship game of the Great Northeast Athletic Conference last winter, losing to the University of St. Joseph's in West Hartford, Conn., 78-59, to end an 11-game winning streak.
WOMEN'S SOCCER, vs. TBD, at home, 7:00 PM: The Bears (10-4-3) went 6-0-1 in the MASCAC and are the No. 1 seed in the tournament for a second year in a row.
BSU will play the lowest remaining seed, either fourth-seeded Fitchburg State (3-11-3, 3-3-1), fifth-seeded Salem State (4-10-3, 2-3-2) or sixth-seeded Framingham State (4-14-1, 2-4-1), in the semifinal round at Mazzaferro Field. Those three teams play in the quarterfinal round on Wednesday.
The Bears tied Fitchburg State, 1-1, on Sept. 28, shut out Framingham State, 4-0, on Oct. 5, and blanked Salem State, 2-0, on Oct. 12.
A win in the semifinal round would make BSU's Yasmina Carvalho the winningest coach in program history with 97 wins.
SATURDAY
WRESTLING, at the Roger Williams Invitational, 9:00 AM: After opening the season with a loss to Southern Maine, the Bears travel to Rhode Island.
BSU placed ninth at Roger Williams last November.
VOLLEYBALL, at Mass. Maritime Academy, Noon: The Bears (10-9) conclude the regular season, looking to improve on a 5-1 record in the MASCAC.
BSU, which has had a week off, defeated the Buccaneers, 3-0, a year ago.
The Bears are in second place in the conference behind Westfield State (6-0).
FOOTBALL, at Vermont State Castleton, Noon: The Bears take a four-hour bus ride north to play their final road game in Vermont. It is the first time the teams have ever met.
BSU (3-5, 3-4 MASCAC) are 0-4 on the road this season. The Bears need to win the final two games to finish .500.
The Spartans have dropped three games in a row and are 3-5, 2-5 in the MASCAC.
MEN'S BASKETBALL, vs. Anna Maria, at Norton, 3:00 PM: The Bears play a second game in the Wheaton Tip-Off Classic against the Amcats.
The teams met in the season opener last Nov. 8 with BSU winning, 119-110, in overtime. Dante Kikuba keyed the victory with 40 points, nine assists, six steals and five rebounds.
Sunday
Men's Soccer, vs. TBD, at home, noon: The Bears will host the MASCAC Tournament Championship game if they advance past the semifinal round.
Women's Soccer, vs. TBD, at home, noon or 3:30 PM: The Bears will host the MASCAC Tournament Championship game if they advance past the semifinal round.