By Jim Fenton

MIDDLETOWN, R.I. -- The Bridgewater State University lacrosse team had a successful opening to the 2025 season Saturday afternoon.

Graduate student Savannah Herrington (Kinnelon, N.J.) and seniors Camryn Gonsalves (East Bridgewater, Mass.) and Erin McIntyre (Tewksbury, Mass.) combined for 11 goals and seven assists in the Bears' 13-9 victory over Salve Regina University at Gaudet Field.

The game was tied, 9-9, entering the final period, but four different players scored in the last 12:05 to give BSU the win.

Freshman goalkeeper Sara Skaff (Lowell, Mass.) had a winning collegiate debut, stopping 15 Seahawks' shots and keeping Salve Regina off the scoreboard in the final period.

Herrington scored five goals, including one in the fourth period. Gonsalves scored three times and set up five other goals while McIntyre had three goals and a pair of assists.

Senior Katy Shaw (Centerville, Mass.) added a a pair of assists for the visitors.

McIntyre broke the 9-9 tie by scoring her 99th collegiate goal with 12:05 remaining, Gonsalves recording her fifth assist of the day.

The Bears took an 11-9 lead with 11:09 to play when graduate student Riley Bina (Abington, Mass.) scored her first collegiate goal, assisted by Shaw.

Herrington made it 12-9 just 42 seconds later and junior Meredith Sylvia (Dartmouth, Mass.)  finished the scoring with 1:41 to go, assisted by McIntyre.

BSU held a 4-2 lead after one period as McIntyre scored 5:38 into the game off the free position and then assisted on a Gonsalves' goal 50 seconds later for a 2-0 edge.

Sophomore Alix Madden (Plymouth, Mass.) scored on a free position shot to get Salve Regina on the board with 8:08 left in the period, but a pair of strikes by Herrington, assisted by Shaw and Gonsalves, respectively, pushed the lead to 4-1 with less than five minutes to go in the period.

The Seahawks added a goal by senior Edie Threshie (Stratford, Conn.) with 2:19 left in the period.

Gonsalves scored with 10:23 to go in the half to make it 5-2, but Salve Regina pulled within 5-4 at the half on free position goals by seniors Holly Sullivan (Pembroke, Mass.) and Samantha Moleti (Township of Washington, N.J.).

The Seahawks tied it on a Moleti goal 2:35 into the second half and took their first lead at 6-5 when Madden scored with 10:10 to go in the third period.

Gonsalves and Moleti exchanged goals and Herrington pulled BSU even at 7-7 with 5:58 left in the period, Gonsalves assisting.

Salve Regina opened its final lead at 8-7 when Threshie scored 35 seconds later, but Herrington (4:51 left) and McIntyre (3:34) were assisted by Gonsalves to move BSU in front, 9-8.

A goal by Madden with 1:27 to go in the third period made it an even game going into the final period.

Skaff made 11 of her 15 saves in the first half and had to make just one stop in the final 15 minutes.

Salve Regina freshman netminder Flynn Kayajan (Hyannis, Mass.) stopped 18 shots in her first collegiate game.

Bridgewater held an 16-10 edge in draw controls with McIntyre and Sylvia leading the way with five apiece.

BSU will play on Sunday at 1 p.m. at Wheaton College. The game was postponed on Wednesday due to field conditions.

Salve Regina is at Johnson & Wales on Tuesday at 6 p.m.