WORCESTER, Mass. – The Bridgewater State University women's lacrosse team opened the 2021 season with a 10-7 setback to host Worcester State University in a Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) matchup on Friday evening at Coughlin Field.

The win marked the first ever for Worcester State versus the Bears. Dating back to 2002, Bridgewater State had won all 22 previous meetings between the two MASCAC foes.

Sophomore midfielder Lily Gendron (Lakeville, Mass.) paced the host Lancers (1-0, 1-0 MASCAC) with a game-high five goals. Gendron also checked in with seven ground balls, three draw controls and a pair of caused turnovers. Senior attack Abby Magnuson (Ellington, Conn.) added a pair of goals for Worcester State, while classmate Hannah Sledzieski (Northampton, Mass.) notched a goal and an assist.

Senior midfielder Emily Hiller (Marion, Mass.) led the way for the visiting Bears (0-1, 0-1 MASCAC) with three goals and an assist to go along with three ground balls, three caused turnovers and a game-best five draw controls. Bridgewater State also received a pair of strikes from sophomore midfielder Katie O'Brien (Pembroke, Mass.), while senior midfielder Kelsi Brennan (Dedham, Mass.) and junior attack Katherine Tracy (Marion, Mass.) each found the back of the net.

Bridgewater State held the early advantage as the Bears led 4-2 following a free position goal by Hiller with 7:46 remaining in the first half. Worcester State, however, closed out the stanza with a 4-0 run capped off by a Magnuson free position tally with just 41 seconds showing on the scoreboard as the Lancers held a 6-4 lead at the break.

Eight of the ten goals in the opening period came on free position attempts.

Back-to-back scoring strikes by Tracy and Hiller to open the second half knotted the score at 6-6. Hiller's third goal of the evening came 4:56 into the session. The Bears then went more than 20 minutes before scoring again. During that span, the Lancers reeled off four straight goals by four different players capped off by a Magnuson tally with 8:50 left to play.

Trailing 10-6, O'Brien converted off the first career assist from freshman attack Savannah Herrington (Kinnelon, N.J.) to cut the deficit to 10-7 with 4:36 remaining. The Bears, however, were held without a shot the rest of the way.

Worcester State held a 28-20 shot advantage for the game as well as a 22-13 edge in ground balls. Bridgewater State finished with a 12-7 advantage in draw controls led by Hiller's game-high five.

The Lancers went 4-for-9 on free position attempts, while the Bears went 4-for-11. Neither team converted a free position attempt in the second half.

Senior goalkeeper Chloe O'Brien (Sturbridge, Mass.) made eight saves to pick up the win between the pipes for Worcester State. Sophomore netminder Olivia Kerrigan (Braintree, Mass.) turned aside eight shots in her first collegiate start for Bridgewater State.

The two teams will meet up again on Sunday (Mar. 28) evening at six in a non-conference tilt.