By Jim Fenton

BRIDGEWATER, Mass. -- The Bridgewater State University lacrosse team closed out the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference schedule with a win Tuesday night.

The Bears defeated the Massachusetts Maritime Academy, 17-1, at Mazzaferro Field, giving them a 13-0 record over the Buccaneers in the series.

BSU improved to 12-4 and finished 4-2 in the MASCAC, which has it currently in fourth place. The conference tournament begins next week.

The 12 wins are the most for the Bears since they recorded that many in 2019.

BSU scored seven first-period goals and held a 13-0 lead at halftime.

Junior Meredith Sylvia (South Dartmouth, Mass.) had five goals for the Bears, including the 100th of her career. Sylvia now has 45 markers on the season.

Senior Camryn Gonsalves (East Bridgewater, Mass.) scored four goals to go with two assists. She has 54 goals on the season.

Scoring three goals was freshman Bailey Kelly (Whitman, Mass.) while senior Katy Shaw (Centerville, Mass.) had a pair of goals.

Sylvia scored three of her goals in the first period and Gonsalves netted a pair in the first 15 minutes. Graduate student Savannah Herrington (Kinnelon, N.J.) and Shaw also scored in the opening period.

Graduate student Riley Bina (Abington, Mass.) started the scoring in the second period. Sylvia and Gonsalves had two goals each and Shaw scored once for the 13-0 lead. Sylvia's milestone tally came with 11:49 remaining in the second session.

Kelly had the lone goal of the third period while junior Katie Lamothe (Dartmouth, Mass.) and Kelly scored less than three minutes apart early in the fourth period.

Freshman goalkeeper Sara Skaff (Lowell, Mass.) played the first half and sophomore Gianna Scarpelli (Medford, Mass.) and freshman Riley Guenette (Johnston, R.I.) saw action in the second half.

Mass. Maritime's goal came with 4:01 remaining, scored by senior Allie Dickinson (Kingston, Mass.). BSU added another score from Kelly with 2:18 left.

The Bears conclude the regular season with Senior Night on Saturday when they host Keene State in a non-conference game at 6 p.m.

Mass. Maritime (3-9, 0-4 in the conference) is at Worcester State Thursday at 6 p.m.