BRIDGEWATER, Mass. -- Junior forward Bethany Bush (Littleton, MA) scored with just under six minutes remaining in overtime to lift the Bridgewater State College field hockey team to a 2-1 victory over Little East Confernce foe University of Southern Maine this afternoon at Swenson Field in Bridgwater.
With the win, the Bears improve to 9-5 on the season and 7-3 in the Little East standings. Southern Maine falls to 10-7 overall and 6-4 in conference play. Bridgewater is in fifth place in the LEC, trailing fourth place Keene State by a half a game.
Bush potted her team-leading sixth goal of the season as she scored on breakaway at the 9:01 mark of the first overtime period. Bush outraced the Southern Maine defense and beat the Huskies' netmider to the stick side.
Bridgewater State junior goaltender Katie Weber (Arlington, MA) turned aside ten shots, including two in overtime, to post her ninth win of the season. Her counterpart for Southern Maine, senior Allison Hill (Cape Elizabeth, ME), made five saves between the pipes for the Huskies.
USM jumped ahead in the contest on an unassisted tally by freshman forward Kailey Bubier (Auburn, ME) in the 14th minute of play. Less than four minutes later, BSC junior forward Nicole Henrique (Swansea, MA) tied the game at 1-1 as she netted her fifth goal of the season off an assist from freshman midfielder Shelby Farland (Fiskdale, MA).
Southern Maine held a 14-10 shot advantage for the game, while Bridgewater carried a 13-10 edge in penalty corners.
Prior to the game, Bridgewater State honored senior defender Kelly Downs (Hanover, MA) who was playing in her final regular season home game. Downs has appeared in all 72 games for the Bears since arriving as a freshman in 2006. She has started 71 of those 72 games with five goals, five assists and 13 defensive saves.
Bridgewater will travel to the University of New England next Tuesday night for a seven o'clock game with the Nor'easters. Southern Maine will head to New England College next Thursday afternoon to take on the Pilgrims at 3 PM.