Women's Lacrosse Advances to MASCAC Semifinals with 19-13 Win over Salem State

BRIDGEWATER, Mass. – Third-seeded Bridgewater State University posted a 19-13 victory over #6 Salem State University in the quarterfinal round of the 2018 Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) Women's Lacrosse Tournament on Tuesday afternoon at Swenson Field.

The Bears (12-6) advance to the tournament semifinals and will travel to Framingham State University on Thursday evening (7:00) to take on the second-seeded Rams. The visiting Vikings end the season with an overall record of 3-14.

Sophomore attack Hayley White (Dracut, Mass.) tallied a game-high five goals to go along with two assists, and junior midfielder Elizabeth Ettridge (Marshfield, Mass.) potted four goals to lead the way for Bridgewater State. Senior midfielder Brooke Buckner (Foxboro, Mass.) checked in with five points on two goals and three assists, while freshman attack Lacey Dinning (Oak Bluffs, Mass.) added three goals and a helper, and freshman midfielder Emily Hiller (Marion, Mass.) dished out a game-high four assists.

The Bears scored the first five goals of the contest and at one point led 10-1 with 17:06 remaining in the first half. Bridgewater would ultimately take a 13-5 lead into the break. White and Ettridge netted three goals apiece in the opening stanza, while junior defender Kerrin O'Leary (Millbury, Mass.) scored her first goal of the season.

Bridgewater got up by as many as ten goals in the second half, including a 19-9 advantage following a Megan Sylvia (New Bedford, Mass.) free position tally with 8:22 left to play. The scoring strike marked the second of the afternoon for the Bears' sophomore defender.

Salem closed out the game with a 4-0 run over the final six minutes to account for the final tally of 19-13.

Freshman attack Tara McLaughlin (Woburn, Mass.) paced the Vikings with four goals and two assists, while senior attack Courtney Smith (Peabody, Mass.) added three goals and a pair of helpers, and junior attack Chelsea Smith (Tewksbury, Mass.) notched three goals and an assist.

The Bears finished with a 42-27 shot advantage for the game as well as a 21-13 edge in draw controls. Bridgewater went 7-for-10 on the free position while Salem converted just 2 of 7 attempts.

Hiller led all players with six draw controls, while junior defender Lisa Moynihan (Norwood, Mass.) and sophomore attack Victoria McDonough (Marshfield, Mass.) added four apiece.

BSU sophomore goalkeeper Hayley Barner (Westwood, Mass.) made seven saves in just under 43 minutes of action to post her 12th win of the season. Freshman Gianna DeNisco (Peabody, Mass.) turned aside 14 shots in the setback for the Vikings.