Balboni, Panzini Lead Bears to 4-3 Win over Westfield State

Box Score

BRIDGEWATER, Mass. – In college field hockey action, the Bridgewater State College Bears dropped a 3-2 decision to visiting Endicott College this afternoon in Bridgewater. With the loss, the Bears fall to 7-3 on the season as they snapped a modest three-game winning streak. Endicott improves to 6-2 overall as the Gulls have won three of their last four games.

Endicott took advantage of their penalty corner opportunities as the Gulls scored all three of their goals off corners. Freshman forward Joanne Reid (Clarksville, MD) scored twice off penalty corners with the assists going both times to junior forward Michelle Berard (Ashland, MA). It would be Reid’s second goal of the game, which at the time gave Endicott a 3-1 advantage, which would prove to be the difference.

Senior forward Jennifer Rheaume (Blackstone, MA) tallied the Gulls’ second goal with just 1:09 remaining in the first half as she knocked home the rebound of her own shot. Endicott would take a 2-0 lead into the intermission.

Bridgewater cut the deficit to 2-1 as senior forward Katie Balboni (Townsend, MA) netted her team-leading seventh goal of the season. Senior midfielder Courtney Sergio (West Bridgewater, MA) picked up the assist on the goal, her third of the season, which came just over six minutes into the second half.

After Reid pushed the Gulls’ lead up to 3-1 at the 16-minute mark of the second half, Bridgewater responded ten minutes later on the first collegiate goal by freshman midfielder Krista Lewis (Pembroke, MA). That, however, would be as close as the Bears would get as they could not come up with the equalizer.

After taking only 2 shots in the first half, the Bears responded by out-shooting the Gulls in the second half by a margin of 7 to 2. BSC also held a 17-9 advantage in penalty corners for the game including a 12-3 edge in the second half. Endicott, however, capitalized on their opportunities with the three penalty corner goals.

Junior netminder Chelsea DeFeo (York, ME) turned aside 6 shots to earn the victory in goal for Endicott. BSC senior goaltender Nicole Downs (Hanover, MA) made 1 save in goal for the Bears in the first half, while sophomore Chelsea Bracchi (Pembroke, MA) also registered 1 save after entering the game to start the second half.

Bridgewater State will be back in action on Saturday morning as the Bears head to Fitchburg State for a 10 AM Little East Conference game with the Falcons. Endicott takes on Commonwealth Coast Conference rival Nichols College on Saturday also at 10.