Field Hockey Falls to WestConn, 2-1

DANBURY, Conn. -- The Western Connecticut State University field hockey team held off visiting Bridgewater State University, 2-1, in a Little East Conference (LEC) matchup on Saturday afternoon at the Westside Athletic Complex.

With the win, the hosts evened their record at 6-6 overall and 4-4 in the Little East, while the Bears dropped to 4-9 on the season and 2-6 in conference play.

Sophomore Alessia Callahan (Glassboro, N.J) took a feed from junior Samantha Burns (New Milford, Conn.) after a penalty corner and netted the game winning goal midway through the third quarter.

WestConn finished with a 24-13 shot advantage for the game and a decided 17-5 edge in penalty corner attempts.

After a scoreless opening period, Bridgewater got on the board first as senior Katie Swart (Bridgewater, Mass.) redirected a shot from classmate Victoria Camara (Westport, Mass.) into the back of the cage early in the second quarter. The goal marked Swart's fourth of the season.

WestConn quickly countered less than three minutes later when sophomore Sydney Chenoweth (Baldwinville, Mass.) gathered a rebound and slipped a shot between the pads of the Bridgewater State netminder.

Callahan would then notch her third goal of the season in the third to put WestConn ahead for good. The hosts nearly added an insurance marker in the fourth as a shot by senior Nora Swift (Brookfield, Conn.) rang off the left post.

Junior goalkeeper Kayla Hnasko (Raritan, N.J.) turned aside four shots to earn the win between the pipes for WestConn. Freshman netminder Emily Ronan (North Billerica, Mass.) made eight saves in the setback for Bridgewater State.

The Little East schedule continues for both teams on Wednesday. The Bears entertain the Corsairs of UMass Dartmouth at seven, while WestConn heads to Eastern Connecticut State University for a four o'clock game with the Warriors.