Five-Goal Outburst Lifts Field Hockey to 5-3 Win over Endicott

BRIDGEWATER, Mass. -- The Bridgewater State University field hockey team exploded for five second half goals as the Bears downed the visiting Gulls of Endicott College, 5-3, on Thursday night at Swenson Field.

The Bears, winners of nine straight games, improve to 10-3 on the season.  Endicott slips to 5-8 overall as the Gulls see their four-game winning streak come to an end.

Senior forward Breanna Clement (Pittsfield, Maine) and junior midfielder Shelby Farland (Fiskdale, Mass.) each tallied a goal and an assist to lead the way for the Bears who erased a 2-0 halftime deficit.

Endicott jumped out in front on first half goals from freshman defender Meghan Leary (Hampton Falls, N.H.) and junior forward Melissa Enright (York Beach, Maine).  Enright's marker came on a penalty stroke with just 3:36 remaining in the opening stanza.

Just over ten minutes into the second half, Bridgewater would finally get on the board as Clement scored off a rebound of a Farland shot. That would jumpstart the scoring barrage for the Bears as all five goals would come in a span of 13 minutes and 12 seconds.  Less than a minute after the Clement goal, junior forward Beth Phillips (Worcester, Mass.) knocked home a pass from Farland to tie the score at 2-2.

Freshman forward Emma Delaney (Townsend, Mass.) tallied her first collegiate marker in the 50th minute to put Bridgewater up to stay.  Clement set up the goal from the top of the circle as she slid a pass to Delaney who tucked a shot inside the left post.  Just over two minutes later, Farland notched her team-leading 11th goal of the season with a backhand shot off her own rebound.

Senior midfielder Stephanie Lannon (Swampscott, Mass.) completed the scoring outburst for Bridgewater in the 59th minute as her long shot from the right side appeared to deflect in off an Endicott stick.

Endicott freshman forward Emily Sawchuck (Cumberland, Maine) made it a 5-3 final as she found the back of the net off an assist from junior forward Taylor Matties (Saratoga Springs, N.Y.) with just 13 seconds left in the game.

Shots in the game were even at 15 apiece while the Gulls held a decided 17-8 edge in penalty corners.

BSU junior netminder Cassie Johansen (Port Jefferson Station, N.Y.) turned aside eight shots to post her tenth win of the season.  Junior goaltender Taylor Teixeira (Exeter, N.H.) and sophomore keeper Lizetta Solarik (Carmel, N.Y.) combined to make six saves for Endicott.

Bridgewater hosts UMass Dartmouth in a key Little East Conference matchup on Saturday at noon, while Endicott entertains Commonwealth Coast Conference foe University of New England also at noon.