Field Hockey Bows to Eastern Connecticut, 2-1

MANSFIELD, Conn. -- The Eastern Connecticut State University field hockey team posted a 2-1 victory over visiting Bridgewater State University in Little East Conference action on Saturday afternoon.

Eastern (9-6, 7-3 LEC) scored in the 14th minute behind senior Jenna Mango's (Bethel, Conn.) first career goal and survived a late Bridgewater State (7-9, 4-6 LEC) goal to earn the win.

The victory tightens Eastern's hold on fourth place in the conference with just one regular-season conference match remaining – the top four seeds hosting the bottom four seeds in the first round of the LEC playoffs Nov. 3. The Warriors have never hosted a first-round game in the 19-year history of the championship.

Appearing in only her fourth game of the year and making her first start of 2015, Mango re-directed senior Hannah Keiser's (Danbury, Conn.) drive from the middle of the circle at the left post, knocking it past Bridgewater junior goalie Kaylyn Allahyarian (Norwell, Mass.) with less than 14 minutes gone. The assist was the 16th career one for Keiser and gives her sole possession of second place on the Warriors' all-time list.

The one-goal lead held until senior Laura Chicorka (Enfield, Conn.) made it 2-0 six minutes into the second half when she stole the ball at the top of the circle, and with Allahyarian off her line, swept the ball into the unattended goal.

Bridgewater, which was outshot, 22-5, cut the Eastern lead in half when senior forward Emily Mosca (Dedham, Mass.) sent her own rebound of a save by Eastern junior goalie Samantha Scavo (Redding, Conn.) from close range into the back of the cage for her third goal of the season.

Eastern outshot Bridgewater 10-1 in the first half and finished with a 16-3 margin in penalty corners. Scavo stopped three shots and Allahyarian 11.

Eastern ends the LEC regular season Saturday at conference co-leader Plymouth State University at 11:30 a.m. Bridgewater hosts Wheaton College on Tuesday night at seven.