Women's Soccer Battles UMass Dartmouth to 1-1 Double Overtime Draw

BRIDGEWATER, Mass. – Bridgewater State University and visiting UMass Dartmouth played to a 1-1 double overtime tie in non-conference women's soccer action on Thursday night at Swenson Field.

The host Bears see their record go to 2-2-4 on the season as they recorded their fourth tie. The Corsairs  are now 2-6-2 on the year.

Sophomore midfielder Yasmina Teixeira (Brockton, Mass.) notched her first collegiate goal in the 24th minute to stake the Bears to a 1-0 lead. Following a short touch pass from junior midfielder Courtney Pepin (Uxbridge, Mass.), Teixeira fired a shot from the top of the 18 that found the inside of the right post.

The Corsairs had two quality opportunities in the early stages of the second half. A shot by senior midfielder Nicole Starkey-Cox (Warwick, R.I.) from 25 yards out in the 48th minute eluded the diving BSU netminder but skipped just wide of the net. In the 53rd minute, a direct kick from senior midfielder Talia D'Ambruoso (Warwick, R.I.) from just outside the 18 never got through the wall.

UMass continued to apply the pressure and it would pay off in the 55th minute. The goal was nearly identical to the BSU tally as D'Ambruoso buried a shot insider the right post from 18 yards out.

Bridgewater had two quality chances later in the half. Pepin shot wide on a semi-breakaway in the 71st minute, while freshman forward Alana Vincent (Taunton, Mass.) ripped a shot off the side of the net in the 78th minute.

The game would head to overtime and the Bears had the better of the opportunities in the first session. Pepin had a clean breakaway in the first overtime period but shot the ball straight at the keeper. Junior midfielder Nicole Simas' (Dartmouth, Mass.) shot from 25 yards out was easily turned aside in the 97th minute, and Teixeira was stoned by the UMD keeper just moments later.

Four of the Corsairs' eight corner kicks came in the second overtime period when the visitors held the edge in play. UMass outshot the Bears in the second OT by a margin of 4-1 with shots by D'Ambruoso and sophomore midfielder Courtney Hewitt (North Attleboro, Mass.) being on frame. Hewitt's bid came in the final minute.

Bridgewater finished with a slight edge in both shots (19-17) and corner kicks (9-8).

Junior goaltender Lauren DeSousa (Taunton, Mass.) made seven saves between the pipes for the Bears, while sophomore keeper Korina Miguel (New Bedford, Mass.) turned aside seven shots for the Corsairs.

Both teams are back in action on Saturday afternoon. The Bears host MASCAC rival Framingham State University at noon, while the Corsairs travel to Rhode Island College for a one o'clock Little East match with the Anchorwomen.