Bush, Henrique Lead Field Hockey to Little East Tournament Win

BRIDGEWATER, Mass. – Senior forwards Bethany Bush (Littleton, Mass.) and Nicole Henrique (Swansea, Mass.) combined for three goals and two assists to lead number two seed Bridgewater State University to a 3-2 victory over seventh seeded Western Connecticut State University in the quarterfinal round of the 2010 Little East Conference Field Hockey Tournament on Tuesday night in Bridgewater.

With the win, Bridgewater (10-7) advances to the tournament semifinal round as the Bears will host third seeded Plymouth State University on Thursday night at 7.  Bridgewater defeated Plymouth, 3-1, in the regular season finale this past Saturday. 

Western Connecticut ends the season with a record of 8-10 as the Colonials were making their first appearance in the Little East Tournament.

Bush, who had a part in all three BSU goals, opened the scoring early as she knocked home a short pass from junior midfielder Breanna Clement (Pittsfield, Mass.) in the third minute.  The goal extended her point scoring streak to a season-long 16 games.

Henrique tallied her first of two goals on the night, both of which she scored while on the ground, off a short crossing pass from Bush in the 20th minute.  The Bears would take the 2-0 lead into the intermission.

Western Connecticut junior midfielder Brittany Barra (Goshen, Conn.) cut the Bridgewater lead in half in the 61st minute as she converted a crossing a pass from sophomore defender Deanna Mastrocola (Goshen, Conn.).

Henrique, however, would respond for the Bears less than three minutes later with what proved to be the deciding goal.  Bush slid a pass in front of the net to Henrique who dove for the ball and was able to knock it past the Western Connecticut keeper.

The Colonials would not go quietly as Barra set up junior forward Lauren Atkinson (Southbury, Conn.) in the 68th minute to pull the visitors to within one.  Bridgewater, however, kept the ball out of their defensive zone over the final two and half minutes to preserve the win.

Senior goaltender Katie Weber (Arlington, Mass.) made two saves between the pipes for the Bears who held a 12-8 shot advantage as well as an 8-3 edge in penalty corners.  Sophomore Heather Stone (Valhalla, N.Y.) turned aside six shots for Western Connecticut

Bush now has 20 goals and 49 points on the season, the second highest single-season totals in Bridgewater State field hockey history.  Karen Croteau set the program records in 1982 with 29 goals and 60 points.