Field Hockey Rallies for 3-2 Win over Worcester

BRIDGEWATER, Mass. – The Bridgewater State University field hockey team rallied from a two-goal deficit as the host Bears stunned visiting Worcester State University, 3-2, in a Little East Conference (LEC) match on Tuesday night at Swenson Field.

The Bears improve to 4-7 on the season and 3-5 in the Little East. Bridgewater handed Worcester (9-3, 7-1 LEC) its first conference loss off the 2017 season and snapped the Lancers' seven-game winning streak. 

Worcester jumped out to a 2-0 lead on a pair of first half goals from senior midfielder Jolane Thibault (Douglas, Mass.) and junior forward Michaila Parent (Westborough, Mass.). Parent's goal marked her team-leading 11th goal of the season.

BSU senior midfielder Tori O'Dea (South Dennis, Mass.) cut the deficit to 2-1 in the 31st minute with her second goal of the season as she redirected a pass from junior midfielder Julianne Kilduff (Bellingham, Mass.) into the back of the net. Kilduff's pass came from outside the top of the circle.

The late first half goal proved to be key as the Bears carried the momentum into the second stanza.

Senior defender Janet Maher (Mansfield, Mass.) knotted the game up at 2-2 as she scored off a penalty corner in the 56th minute. Junior midfielder Samantha Hayes (Norwood, Mass.) set up Maher's second goal of 2017 as she received the corner hit from junior midfielder Kathryn Jacobson (Norfolk, Mass.).

Just 59 seconds later, junior forward Alexandra Zoebisch (Plymouth, Mass.) capped off the comeback with her fourth goal of the season. O'Dea sent a long ball towards the net from outside the circle. The Worcester keeper kicked it away to the right side of the cage, but Zoebisch jumped on the loose ball and fired a shot inside the far post.

Bridgewater finished with a 22-16 shot advantage as well as a 14-8 edge in penalty corner attempts.

Sophomore goalkeeper Jillian Delaney (Foxboro, Mass.) made five saves to post her first career win for the Bears. Moments before Maher's game-tying goal, Delaney made three saves in a span of ten seconds to keep it a one-goal deficit.

Senior netminder Kathryn Selamme (Boxborough, Mass.) turned aside six shots in the setback for the Lancers.

Both teams are back in action on Thursday evening at six. The Bears travel to Little East rival UMass Dartmouth, while the Lancers head to Clark University for a non-conference game with the Cougars.