Bridgewater State Downs Fitchburg State, 3-1

Mansfield notches lone goal for Falcons in MASCAC setback

BRIDGEWATER, Mass. – Junior midfielder Allyson Pontes tallied a pair of goals to lead the Bridgewater State University women's soccer team to a 3-1 win over visiting Fitchburg State University in a Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) contest on Saturday afternoon at Swenson Field.

The Bears improve to 9-4 on the season and remain unbeaten in MASCAC play with a 5-0 conference mark. The Falcons slip to 2-12 overall and 0-4 in the MASCAC.

Pontes converted a breakaway opportunity in the eighth minute to give the Bears the early 1-0 lead. After corralling a long volley, Pontes beat a defender and slipped a shot past the keeper and inside the near post for her first collegiate goal.

Despite being out played for the majority of the first half, Fitchburg tied the game at 1-1 with just 52 seconds showing on the clock. Sophomore forward Danyel Stone made a great run down the right side and sent a cross into the goal box to sophomore midfielder Whitney Mansfield, who easily beat the BSU netminder with a one-timer inside the far post.

Fitchburg junior goaltender Morgan Steele made five saves in the first half including three key stops. Steele made a leaping save and knocked the ball over the crossbar on a restart shot by BSU senior defender Allison LeBel in the fifth minute.

The first-year Falcon also stopped a shot from 40 yards out by senior defender Olivia Planty in the 23^rd minute that was labeled for the left side of the net. With ten minutes remaining in the stanza, Steele turned back junior midfielder Drew Guay who was all alone in front of the net.

In the second half, Pontes put the Bears back on top midway through the second half with her second goal of the game as Pontes struck the ball out of midair and flicked a shot over the keeper's head.

Less than eight minutes later, freshman midfielder Melissa Morton put the finishing touches on the Bears' victory as she tallied her first collegiate goal. Morton collected a short touch pass from Yowell inside the box and buried a shot into the right side of the net from ten yards out.

The Bears finished with decided advantages in both shots (25-9) and corner kicks (17-1).

BSU sophomore keeper Lauren DeSousa turned aside four shots to record her ninth win of the season in 75:01 minutes of aciton, while Steele made nine saves Falcons in the complete game effort.

Both teams are back in action on Wednesday evening with non-conference game. Bridgewater State entertains Keene State College at 7 p.m., while Fitchburg State travels to Eastern Connecticut State University for a 6 p.m. match.

Release Courtesy Of Bridgewater State SID Office

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