FRAMINGHAM, Mass. -- The fourth seeded Framingham State College field hockey team opened the Little East Conference Tournament with a 2-0 win over fifth seed Bridgewater State this afternoon at Maple Street Field in Framingham.
With the win, the Rams advance to the LEC Tournament semifinals and will face the winner of the Salem State/Keene State quarterfinal which is being played later tonight. If top seeded Keene State wins, the Rams will travel to Keene, New Hampshire on Thursday. If Salem State wins the Rams will host the semifinal on Thursday afternoon.
The Bears end the 2009 season with an overall record of 9-8. The host Rams improve to a program best 15-3 on the season.
Junior forward Kristen Sacco (Mendon, MA) scored the game-winner just 12:44 into the contest. Sophomore midfielder Kayleigh Force (Leominster, MA) dribbled into the circle and fired a shot towards the net that Sacco redirected into the cage for her school record 20th goal of the season. The assist was Force's 11th on the year which is also a school record.
The Rams would take the 1-0 lead into the half and had a chance to extend their lead just two minutes into the second half as Sacco had two point blank shots on the net but both were turned away by Bridgewater State junior goalie Katie Weber (Arlington, MA).
Framingham State added an insurance goal at 48:40 as Sacco lifted a shot at the cage that senior forward Kali Barrett (North Attleboro, MA) deflected out of the air and into the net for her 11th goal of the season.
Bridgewater State had several chances to cut into the Rams lead down the stretch but Framingham State goalie Allesha Kenyon (Westford, MA) was outstanding turning away everything the Bears sent her way.
With 18 minutes remaining, Bridgewater State junior Bethany Bush (Littleton, MA) fired a shot at the cage off of a penalty corner but Kenyon made a diving save. With six minutes remaining, Bush had one last shot to cut into the Rams lead but her offering sailed just wide of the net and the Rams were able to preserve the win.
Kenyon finished the day making seven saves en route to her fourth shutout win of the season, while Weber made nine saves for the Bears.