Women's Soccer Blanks Mass. Maritime as Carvalho Records 100th Win

By Jim Fenton

BUZZARDS BAY, Mass. -- Yasmina Carvalho recorded her first win as the Bridgewater State University women's soccer coach on Sept. 13, 2014.

The Bears edged Plymouth State, 3-2, in overtime in New Hampshire that day on a goal by Mackenzie Hatfield.

Nearly 11 years to the day later, Carvalho picked up the 100th victory of her BSU coaching career.

The milestone was hit on Friday night at Clean Harbors Stadium when the Bears handed the Massachusetts Maritime Academy a 7-0 setback.

Carvalho is now 100-74-19 since being hired at her alma mater.

Carvalho was a four-year player for the Bears from 2006-09 when her teams won 36 games. She was a two-year captain and a three-time All-Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference selection.

Last season, Carvalho became BSU's all-time winningest women's soccer coach, surpassing Andrea Zeigler, who had 96 wins in 11 seasons.

Carvalho, who played for Zeigler, broke the record last Nov. 8 by beating Fitchburg State, 3-1, in the conference tournament.

The Bears jumped to a 3-0 lead over Mass. Maritime in the first half, then added four second-half goals.

BSU (2-3) improved to 2-0 in the MASCAC and is now 17-0 against the Buccaneers in a series that started in 2008.

The Bears are 17-0-1 in their last 18 regular-season conference games, last losing on Oct. 15, 2023.

Senior Jenna Sweeney (Wilmington, Mass.) and freshman freshman Julianna Warner (Feeding Hills, Mass.) each had a pair of goals and an assist. Warner recorded the first goal and assist of her collegiate career.

Junior Natalie Mattos (Fairhaven, Mass.) scored twice while senior Olivia Robarge (Pepperell, Mass.) had a goal and an assist in the win.

The Bears dominated from start to finish, holding advantages of 29-2 in shots on goal and 46-3 in shots with a 12-1 edge in corner kicks.

Sweeney opened the scoring just 6:25 in with a goal from senior Abigail Shea (Somerset, Mass.). The goal came off a corner kick.

At 7:51, Mattos scored for a 2-0 lead and Robarge opened the three-goal halftime lead at 14:42, assisted by senior Ariana Snelgrove (East Bridgewater, Mass.).

The Robarge goal came off a restart with a long volley from Snelgrove at midfield getting between two Buccaneers' defenders. Robarge ran on to the ball and chipped it over the keeper from just outside the 18.

Mattos opened the second-half scoring at 48:24, assisted by Warner.

A short crossing pass by Warner was converted by Mattos from just inside the 18 into the right side of the net.

The lead went to 5-0 at 57:11 when Warner scored from Sweeney, whose shot hit the post and Warner converted the rebound.

At 60:31, Sweeney scored from freshman Brenda Murphy (Brockton, Mass.). A throw-in by Murphy went to Sweeney, who put a shot from 20 yards out just over the hand of the goalkeeper.

BSU finished the scoring at 62:42 when Warner scored from Robarge.

A corner kick by Robarge went to Warner, who scored from close range.

Bears goalkeeper Logan Levesque (Bristol, R.I.) made two saves to record her second shutout of the season and the 20th of her career.

Mass. Maritime senior Brady Deschamps (Brewster, Mass.) made 14 saves in the first half while freshman Mariana Lefco (Malta, N.Y.) stopped eight shots in the second half.

BSU returns home Wednesday night to face nationally ranked MIT at 7 p.m.

The Engineers are 5-0, have allowed one goal and are ranked No. 6 in the national Division III poll. MIT was 21-2-1 last season, reaching the second round of the NCAA tourney, and is 12-9-2 against BSU.

Mass. Maritime (0-5, 0-2 MASCAC) is at New England College Tuesday at 7 p.m.