Field Hockey Blanks Eastern Connecticut, 1-0, on Senior Night

BRIDGEWATER, Mass. -- Senior forward Carissa Vizakis (Bellingham, Mass.) notched the game's only goal with 1:58 left in play to lift the Bridgewater State University field hockey team to a 1-0 Little East Conference victory over Eastern Connecticut State University on Senior Night at Swenson Field.

Bridgewater extended its' winning streak to a program-best 11 games as the Bears improve to 14-2 on the season and 9-1 in the Little East.  The hosts are tied for second place in the LEC standings along with UMass Dartmouth.  ESCU falls to 8-9 overall and 4-6 in conference play.

Off a penalty corner with the clock ticking down to two minutes, junior midfielder Jaclyn Holahan (South Yarmouth, Mass.) sent in a shot in from the top of the circle.  The ball was deflected into the air by senior defender Olivia Galvin (Mashpee, Mass.) and Vizakis batted the ball out of midair and into the back of the net.

For Vizakis, the goal marked her team leading 15th  the season and 29th of her career.  She ranks fifth all time at Bridgewater State in goals and fourth in scoring (74 points).

Senior Kacie Sturgeon (Dartmouth, Mass.) recorded three saves to post her conference leading ninth shut out of the season and 14th of her career.  She also lowered her save percentage to .895 and goals against average to 0.66.  Sturgeon entered the game ranked second in all of Division III in save percentage and eighth in goals against average.

Freshman goaltender Samantha Scavo (Redding, Conn.) turned aside two shots between the pipes for the Warriors.

Bridgewater held an 8-5 shot advantage for the game, while Eastern Connecticut had a 9-7 edge in penalty corners.

Prior to the start of the game, the Bears held their Senior Day festivities.  Vizakis, Galvin, and Sturgeon were honored along with midfielder Georgina Bagordo (Sparta, N.J.), defender Mattie Burke (Shrewsbury, Mass.), and forward Demi Miskiv (Centerville, Mass.).

Bridgewater State returns to action on Tuesday night as the Bears host non-conference rival Wheaton College at seven.  Eastern Connecticut State travels to LEC opponent Worcester State University next Saturday afternoon for a two o'clock game with the Lancers.