By Jim Fenton

WESTFIELD, Mass. -- The Bridgewater State University women's lacrosse season came to an end with a difficult loss Thursday night.

The third-seeded Bears were edged by second-seeded Westfield State University, 9-8, on a goal with just 26 seconds remaining.

BSU fell just short in the semifinal round of the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference tournament at Alumni Field.

With the Bears down a player, the Owls took advantage and broke an 8-8 tie when graduate student Christina Roncarati (East Longmeadow, Mass.) scored the game-winning goal.

BSU had rallied from an 8-6 deficit to tie the game with just over three minutes to go before Roncarati put the Owls back in front.

The Bears made a bid to tie it again in the closing seconds when sophomore Sophia Fleurent (Fairhaven, Mass.) took the ensuing draw and got to the goal, but senior goalkeeper Izzy Conley (Salem, Mass.) made the stop.

The Bears (8-11) had a five-game winning streak halted. BSU's last loss had been to Westfield State on April 11, 10-8.

The Owls advance to the MASCAC final on Saturday against top-seeded Worcester State, a 12-5 winner over Framingham State in the other semifinal.

Westfield State has won six of the last eight MASCAC tournaments.

Senior Meredith Sylvia (Dartmouth, Mass.) and Fleurent had three goals each for BSU.

Senior Mercedes Rozzi (Burlington, Vt.) had three goals to lead Westfield State.

Conley made 12 saves for Westfield State while sophomore goalkeeper Sara Skaff (Lowell, Mass.) had five saves for BSU.

The Bears had advantages in shots, 28-25, shots on goal, 20-14, and groundballs, 17-15.

The Bears were behind, 8-6, entering the fourth period and both teams were scoreless for the first 10-plus minutes.

But BSU tied it with a pair of goals 1:12 apart.

Sophomore Taylor Carter (Walpole, Mass.) made it 8-7 with 4:20 to go and Fleurent tied it with 3:08 remaining.

The Bears outshot the hosts, 10-4, in the final 15 minutes.

Westfield State then won it in the final minute to move into the championship game.

The game was tied, 2-2, after one period.

Fleurent gave the Bears a 1-0 lead 4:01 in before Westfield State went ahead on goals by Rozzi and freshman Bri McPhillips (Montgomery, N.Y.).

Sylvia tied it for the Bears with 58 seconds left in the period.

The Owls held a 4-3 lead at halftime, getting goals from freshman Emily Heslin (Wrentham, Mass.) and Rozzi while Sylvia scored for BSU in the second period.

Heslin pushed Westfield State's edge to 5-3 with 2:10 gone in the third period, but Sylvia and freshman Kate Fitzpatrick (Methuen, Mass.) scored 3:09 apart to tie the game.

BSU then took a 6-5 lead with 3:43 to go in the third period when Fleurent scored.

But the Owls closed the period with three goals in the last 2:09 for an 8-6 lead. McPhillips, sophomore Marena Morales (Tolland, Conn.) and Rozzi had the goals.

Notes: Sylvia wraps up her terrific career at Bridgewater State with 156 goals and 35 assists for 191 points to go along with 174 ground balls, 166 draw controls and 111 caused turnovers. She is fourth all-time in program history in caused turnovers, fifth in ground balls, seventh in draw controls, 11th in goals and 16th in scoring.