LADY BEARS GAIN MOMENTUM AFTER SLOW START TO SEASON
By Connor Berube
Comment Contributor
It is finally appropriate to use the term hot streak when talking about the Bridgewater State University women’s soccer team, as over the past four games the Lady Bears have found their momentum.
Since starting the 2013 season 0-2 and getting outscored six goals to none, BSU has caught fire in their last four contests, tallying thirteen goals and allowing just five. During the four-game stretch, the Bears are 3-0-1.
Facing nonconference opponent Salve Regina University on Tuesday night at Swenson Field, the Bears brought everything they had to the table, outshooting the Seahawks 24 to 9, while scoring a trio of goals in the first half and two more in the second, en route to a 5-1 win.
Junior forward Erica Jonasson continued her impressive season with two more goals to her credit, and sophomore forward Mackenzie Hatfield had her best game of the year, matching Jonasson’s two goals and grabbing a pair of assists.
“Erica’s been huge for us,” said Bears’ head coach Lou Verrochi. “She’s done a great job.”
Jonasson has been arguably one of the biggest contributors so far in the young season for the Lady Bears. The junior forward has been on an offensive tear, having scored seven of BSU’s thirteen goals.
Along with an assist, the Wrentham native has totaled an impressive 15 points. Jonasson scored four of her goals in two games last week, good enough to earn Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) Women’s Soccer Player of the Week honors.
“Every game we just keep improving and getting to know each other better on the field and how we work as a team,” Jonasson said. “Every game gets a little bit better and a little easier.”
Verrochi was exceptionally pleased to see Hatfield register a career-high six points versus the Seahawks.
“Mackenzie is the engine that makes us tick,” he said.
Hatfield has shown time and time again what she can do at her best, getting behind defenders and breaking them down, allowing Jonasson to take care of the rest.
“We just need to continue to stay focused and motivate each other,” Hatfield said.
In addition to Jonasson and Hatfield, senior Megan O’Leary (Whitman, MA) has been a solid outside midfielder for BSU and Verrochi considers MaryRose Griffin (Whitman, MA) to be the anchor in the defense.
Junior forward Emily Lane (Parsonsfield, ME), freshmen forward Emily Herrick (Pepperell, MA), sophomore defender Marissa Russo (Dartmouth, MA) and senior captain Katie Nasuti (Millbury, MA) all have found the net for BSU.
“I think we’re really progressing in general,” Verrochi said. “It was scoreless at the half against Babson College and Brandeis University and we didn’t play as well as we should have. Then we came back with three quality wins, especially against Framingham which was a great test for us.”
In order to maintain this type of success, Verrochi said that improvement every day is important.
“We’ve got to continue to get better every day, every practice, and every game,” he said. “Players bring skill, but competitors bring everything.”
The Bears’ next game will take place on Thursday as they travel to face Roger Williams University.
Connor Berube is a Comment contributor. Editor-In-Chief Greg Dudek edited this story. Email him at gdudek@student.bridgew.edu.
