Vizakis' Four Goals Lifts Field Hockey to 5-1 Win over Little East Foe Worcester State

BRIDGEWATER, Mass. – Senior forward Carissa Vizakis (Bellingham, Mass.) notched her first career four-goal game as the Bridgewater State University field hockey team downed Little East Conference foe Worcester State University, 5-1, on Saturday evening at Swenson Field.

The host Bears improve to 9-2 on the season with the win and 4-1 in the Little East.  The Lancers slip to 6-4 overall and 1-4 in conference play.

The win marked the 92nd career coaching victory for head coach Erika Smith.  Smith is 92-57 (.617) in eight seasons with the Bears as she is tied with fellow BSU Hall of Famer Mary Lou Thimas (92-35-26, .686) as the all-time winningest coach in program history.

Vizakis opened the scoring less than three minutes into the contest as she knocked home the rebound of her own shot.  She then gave the Bears a 2-0 advantage just five minutes later as she redirected a cross from junior midfielder Jaclyn Holahan (South Yarmouth, Mass.). Senior midfielder Georgina Bagordo (Sparta, N.J.) capped off the first half scoring with an unassisted tally in the 32 minute.  The scoring strike marked her first of the 2013 campaign.

Vizakis tipped in long shot from Holahan just over nine minutes into the second half to complete the hat trick. Then, with under two minutes remaining in the contest, senior forward Demi Miskiv (Centerville, Mass.) slipped a pass in front of the net and Vizakis buried a shot inside the left post for her fourth goal of the game and team-leading 12th of the season.

Junior midfielder Kelli McPherson (Mansfield, Mass.) potted the Lancers' lone goal of the evening in the 60th minute off a feed from sophomore midfielder Julie O'Rourke (Worcester, Mass.).

McPherson's goal snapped a shutout streak of 353 minutes and nine seconds for BSU senior netminder Kacie Sturgeon (Dartmouth, Mass.).  Sturgeon, who finished with one save on the evening, had not allowed a goal since a 3-1 win over WPI on September 23rd.

Bridgewater held a 9-3 shot advantage for the game as well as a 15-6 edge in penalty corners.

Senior goaltender Allison Romano (East Bridgewater, Mass.) turned aside three shots between the pipes for the Lancers.

The Little East schedule resumes for both team on Wednesday evening at seven.  The Bears entertain Framingham State University while the Lancers travel to Western Connecticut State University.