Women's Soccer Blanks Salem State, 1-0

BRIDGEWATER, Mass. – The Bridgewater State University women's soccer team edged visiting Salem State University, 1-0, in a Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) contest on Saturday afternoon at Swenson Field.

The Bears improve to 8-4 on the season with the win and remain unbeaten atop the MASCAC standings with a perfect 4-0 conference mark. The Vikings slip to 4-7-1 overall and 2-2 in the MASCAC.

Bridgewater got on the board early as junior midfielder Drew Guay (Fall River, Mass.) beat the Salem keeper with a shot inside the left post from 15 yards out less than four minutes into the game. Sophomore forward Courtney Pepin (Uxbridge, Mass.) started the play with a perfectly executed cross from the right side to senior midfielder Marissa Yowell (Ashland, Mass.). Yowell slipped a short pass back to Guay who potted her second goal of the season.

BSU sophomore goaltender Lauren DeSousa (Taunton, Mass.) made two first half saves including a diving stop on a shot by senior forward Kelly Birchmore (Swampscott, Mass.) in the 35th minute to keep the Vikings off the board as the Bears led 1-0 at the intermission. Salem senior netminder Melissa Toomey (Saugus, Mass.) turned aside six shots over the first 45 minutes to keep it a one-goal game.

Salem had a quality scoring chance off a corner kick less than three minutes into the second half, but Leah Wood's (Loveland, Ohio) close-range shot sailed high. Wood again nearly capitalized on a corner kick opportunity in the 65th minute but again her shot went over the bar.

DeSousa finished with five saves on the afternoon as she recorded her eighth win of the season and sixth shutout. It marks the most shutouts in a season for a BSU keeper since current goaltending coach Emily Schlosser recorded seven in 2004. The Bears' single-season record of nine shutouts was set by BSU Hall of Famer Tracey Ullathorne in 1993.

Bridgewater held a slight 17-15 shot advantage for the game, while Salem had the 4-2 edge in corner kicks. The Bears put 12 of their 17 shots on frame, while the Vikings managed just five shots on goal.

Toomey finished with 11 saves in the setback.

Both teams are off until next Saturday. The Bears host MASCAC foe Fitchburg State University at noon, while the Vikings travel to Framingham State University for an 11:00 AM conference match with the Rams.