Field Hockey Falls to WPI in Season-Opener, 2-0

BRIDGEWATER, Mass. – The visiting WPI field hockey team spoiled Bridgewater State's season-opener as the Engineers posted a 2-0 shutout on Tuesday night at rain-soaked Swenson Field.

With the win, WPI improves to 3-0 on the season, while the host Bears fall to 0-1.

The Engineers opened the scoring in the 16th minute as senior forward Sasha Marokhovsky (Upton, Mass.) scored off a short cross from classmate Celena Dopart (Washington, D.C.).  WPI made it a 2-0 game when senior midfielder Danielle Antonellis (Duxbury, Mass.) converted a penalty stoke opportunity with just 3:52 remaining in the opening stanza.  Antonellis buried her shot into the top left corner of the net.

The Engineer defense was stellar throughout as they limited the Bears' scoring chances.  WPI held a 14-2 shot advantage for the game as well as a 10-9 edge in penalty corners.

Sophomore goaltender Liz Dufresne (Worcester, Mass.) posted her second shutout of the season as she extended her shutout streak to 161 minutes and 46 seconds.

BSU junior Cassie Johansen (Port Jefferson Station, N.Y.) allowed one goal in 35 minutes of work and turned aside four shots in the losing effort.  Sophomore Kacie Sturgeon (Dartmouth, Mass.) entered the game momentarily in the first half after the penalty stroke was awarded.  She then came back to start the second half and played very well making five saves.

Bridgewater will open the Little East Conference portion of their schedule on Saturday afternoon when the Bears travel to Keene State College to take on the Owls at 1:30.  WPI hosts Union College in a non-conference contest on Saturday at 2:00 PM.