Cullinane's Two Goals Lifts Field Hockey to 2-1 LEC Win Over Westfield

BRIDGWATER, Mass. – Junior midfielder Brittany Cullinane (Lunenburg, Mass.) tallied a pair of goals, including the game-winner with two minutes left in regulation, to lead the Bridgewater State University field hockey team to a 2-1 victory over Little East Conference rival Westfield State University on Saturday afternoon at Swenson Field.

The host Bears improve to 3-2 on the season and 1-1 in the Little East, while the visiting Owls slip to 3-2 overall and 1-1 in conference play.

Cullinane provided the heroics with the clock winding down as she dribbled into the top of the half-circle and fired a blast into the back of the net from ten yards out.

The game was knotted at one apiece after 35 minutes of play. The two teams exchanged goals less than two minutes apart in the latter stages of the opening half.Sophomore forward Megan Evans (Enfield, Conn.) opened the scoring for the Owls in the 28th minute off a quick transition as she ripped a shot from five yards out that beat the BSU netminder to the right side. For Evans, the goal was her fourth of the season.

The Bears quickly responded in the 30th minute as Cullinane received a short pass from senior forward Marinna Emmond (Seekonk, Mass.) off a scramble in front of the net. Cullinane slipped a backhander into a wide open right side of the net for her second marker of the campaign.

Westfield had a goal disallowed with about two minutes remaining in the opening stanza due to a foot infraction. The Owls were also awarded a penalty corner as time was expiring in the period but were unable to convert.

BSU senior forward Kelsey Kiely (Mansfield, Mass.) had a great opportunity to break the tie with just over ten minutes remaining in the second half. Kiely was alone in front of the net but her shot was denied by Westfield junior goaltender Megan Fountaine (Scituate, Mass.). Sophomore forward Tori O'Dea (South Dennis, Mass.) jumped on the rebound but slipped a shot wide of the left post.

Kiely had two more great chances to put the Bears on top off a nice setup from senior forward Brittney Field (Hubbardston, Mass.) with five minutes left in the stanza. Kiely was stoned again by Fontaine and then put the rebound attempt wide of the net.

Fountaine was very busy between the pipes for the Owls in the second half as she made ten of her 13 saves in the final period.

BSU junior keeper Kaylyn Allahyarian (Norwell, Mass.) made two saves to post her second win of the season. Allahyarian's best stop came in the first half as she flashed her right pad to stop junior forward Holly Brouillette (Burlington, Mass.) on a semi-breakaway opportunity. Brouillette entered the game with a team-best eight goals.

Bridgewater held a 19-4 shot advantage for the game including a 14-1 edge in the second half. The Bears also had nine penalty corner attempts compared to just two for the Owls.

Both teams are back in action on Wednesday night at seven. The Bears host the Pilgrims of New England College, while the Owls travel to Castleton State College to take on the Spartans.