Field Hockey Advances to Little East Championship Game

BRIDGEWATER, Mass. -- Junior midfielder Breanna Clement (Pittsfield, Mass.) tallied the game-winner in overtime to lead the Bridgewater State University Bears to a dramatic 2-1 victory over visiting Plymouth State University in the semifinals of the 2010 Little East Conference Field Hockey Tournament on Friday night in Bridgewater.

The second-seeded Bears (11-7) will advance to the Little East championship game on Sunday at noon against number one seed and host UMass Dartmouth.  Bridgewater will be making the program's first appearance in the conference tournament final.  Plymouth State (12-7) will await word on a possible ECAC Tournament bid.

Clement notched the game-winner with 9:09 left in the first overtime period.  Sophomore midfielder Shelby Farland (Fiskdale, Mass.) started the play with a long feed to an open Nicole Henrique (Swansea, Mass.) to the left of the circle.  Henrique slid a pass to Clement in front of the net who beat the Plymouth keeper to the bottom left side.

Just two minutes before Clement's dramatic goal, senior goaltender Katie Weber (Arlington, Mass.) made a game-saving stop on a penalty stroke attempt by Plymouth junior midfielder Lauren Bergeron (New Hampton, N.H.).

The Panthers in fact were unable to convert on two penalty strokes as junior defender Erin Norris (Hilton, N.Y.) missed wide left with just under ten minutes remaining in regulation with Plymouth leading 1-0.

Bridgewater tied the game as sophomore midfielder Megan Cullinane (Lunenburg, Mass.) converted a fast break opportunity for the Bears as she knocked in a cross from Clement with 4:11 left in regulation.

Plymouth played a stifling defense and dominated play up until Cullinane's game-tying goal.  The Panthers held a 26-8 shot advantage for the contest as well as a 19-3 edge in penalty corners.

Plymouth got on the board early as freshman forward Jackie Morin (Scarborough, Maine) scored off a feed from senior forward Kristina Conroy (Wakefield, Mass.) just 1:44 into the game.

Weber was brilliant between the pipes for the Bears as she turned aside 13 shots to post her 11th win of the season.  Sophomore Hilary Lemelin (Milan, N.H.) made four saves in goal for the Panthers.