By Jim Fenton
BRIDGEWATER, Mass. -- Here's a look at the week ahead (March 16-22) for the Bridgewater State University athletics teams:
TUESDAY
WOMEN'S LACROSSE, Clarkson, 4:00 PM: The Bears and Golden Eagles of the Liberty League meet for the first time.
BSU (1-5) returns to Mazzaferro Field after losing two games in Clearwater, Fla., ast week.
Clarkson is 5-1 with five straight wins.
THURSDAY
WOMEN'S SWIMMING & DIVING, NCAA Championships, 12:45 PM: BSU senior diver Cailey Simard (Haverhill, Mass.) takes part in the national championship event at Indiana University in Indianapolis.
It is the second straight trip to the NCAA Division III Championships for Simard.
The first event for Simard is the 1-meter diving preliminaries with the consolation round later in the day and the final taking place at night.
MEN'S TENNIS, at home, Wentworth, 3:00 PM: The Bears open the spring schedule by hosting the Leopards in a non-conference match.
BSU lost to Wentworth, 5-2, last season and has dropped three straight and six of eight to the Leopards.
The Bears play three straight matches at home. BSU lost to Emerson, 6-0, in the fall semester.
BASEBALL, at Wheaton College, 3:30 PM: The Bears and Lyons meet for the first time since 2022 when BSU lost at home, 13-3.
Wheaton holds a 24-11 lead in the series, which began in 1999.
The Lyons are returning home to James V. Sidell Stadium for the first time since going 6-2 in Florida.
Saturday
SOFTBALL, at Salve Regina (DH), Noon: The Bears travel to Toppa Field in Newport, R.I., for a twinbill against the Seahawks.
BSU went 6-4 in South Carolina and will be playing for the first time since returning home.
The teams split a twinbill last season, the Bears losing, 9-2, and winning, 7-4.
Salve Regina is playing six games in Melbourne, Fla., to open its season this week.
WOMEN'S SWIMMING & DIVING, NCAA Championships, 12:45 PM: BSU senior Cailey Simard finishes her diving career by competing in the 3-meter preliminaries at Indiana University in Indianapolis in the Division III national championship meet.
The preliminary round is in the afternoon followed by the consolation and championship rounds.