Bears Race Past Vikings 22-12

SALEM, Mass. – Emily Hiller (Marion, Mass.) and Savannah Herrington (Kinnelon, N.J.) each scored six goals and Katherine Tracy (Marion, Mass.) added three as Bridgewater State claimed a 22-12 victory in a Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference women's lacrosse match on Saturday evening at Alumni Field. The Bears improve to 2-3 on the season and 1-2 in the MASCAC while the Vikings remain winless at 0-3.

Six different players scored for Bridgewater State as the Bears opened the game on a 6-0 run. Herrington's free position shot made the score 6-0 at the 19:12 mark.

Salem State responded with three unanswered goals including the first of Kirsten Bradley's (Peabody, Mass.) five goals.

Tracey added her second of the game at 11:23 of the first before Bradley and Mackenzie Schmink (Danvers, Mass.) added back-to-back unassisted goals, pulling the Vikings to within 7-5. Bridgewater State's Hiller and Salem State's Tara McLaughlin (Woburn, Mass.) each added two more scores before Herrington closed the period with a goal with just over a minute remaining before halftime, as he Bears took a 10-7 lead into the half.

Bridgewater State held a 19-16 advantage in shots while the teams took possession on nine draw control's apiece.

Bradley opened the scoring in the second half to once again make the game just a two goal deficit, but the Bears scored four straight times over the next six and a half minutes to take a commanding 14-8 lead. McLaughlin's third score of the night made it 15:10 with 14:33 remaining, but the Vikings could not draw closer as the Bears ended the game on a 7-2 with run with four of the goals coming from Hiller and Herrington.

Olivia Kerrigan (Braintree, Mass.) earned the win in net for Bridgewater State making five saves on 12 shots in the first half. Laura Giovaniello (Walpole, Mass.) allowed five goals while making three stops in the second half for the Bears. The Vikings' Charlotte Orth (Bourne, Mass.) stopped 19-of-41 shots.   

Salem State honored seniors Tara McLaughlin and Kirsten Bradley in a pre-game ceremony for their dedication to the program over the last four years.

Inside the Numbers:

• The Bears held a slight 15-14 advantage in turnovers and held a 22-13 margin in ground balls led by four from Hiller.
• Bridgewater State owned a 45-19 lead in shots including a 26-13 advantage in the second half.
• Bradley led Salem State with five goals while McLaughlin added four goals and two assists.
• Salem State is now 0-10 in their last 10 games against the Bears.