BSU field hockey’s fate to be determined in weeks to come
Brendan Coughlin
Sports Editor
With four games in the Little East Conference (LEC) remaining, Bridgewater State University’s field hockey team finds themselves in the middle of the pack at 6-5. They currently are tied for the fourth spot in the conference with the chance to climb as high as second place behind undefeated powerhouse, Keene State.
“Each win from here on out is crucial,” said assistant coach Angela Charles. “We hope to be in a position where we are not only in postseason play but can host our game as well.”
Senior Brittney Field along with sophomore Tori O’Dea find themselves second amongst the Bears with five goals apiece on the season. She also sits at second on the team in assists at three and points at 13.
Field’s strong play was appreciated by the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) being named the Division III Field Hockey Player of the Week for the week of Oct. 8.
Field scored all five of her season goals over the course of that week. Against division rival Fitchburg St., Field had a five-point game (2G, 1A). The senior is praised for her field vision as well as the ability to find the back of the net.
“She is constantly pushing herself to be the best she can be,” said Charles on Field. “Even when she is succeeding she continues to work hard and not become complacent with her results.”
In the month of October, the Bears have gone 2-2 with a pair of heartbreaking one-goal losses. In out of conference play, BSU lost a double-overtime match against Anna Maria.
The second loss came at the hands of Keene St., (11-0 LEC) 2-1. The Bears fell behind by two goals against the first place opponent.
Senior midfielder Mary Dubin assisted junior midfielder and co-captain Brittany Cullinane for her team leading seventh goal of the season with only eight seconds remaining on the clock, leaving BSU just shy of the major upset.
Receiving zero first place votes, BSU field hockey was voted to finish sixth out of twelve teams. With no one giving the team a chance, they have overperformed as we reach the latter half of the season.
”It is easy to get down on yourself in this type of situation,” said coach Charles. “But not these girls, they used it as fuel and have been working as hard as they possibly can to prove other teams and people wrong, and to be as successful as (we) know they can be.”
Bridgewater’s field hockey team will take the field again Saturday, Oct. 17 at Western Connecticut State University beginning a difficult stretch of three straight LEC matchups all on the road.
The Bears have the opportunity to climb in the conference standings the following week when they travel to UMass Dartmouth and Eastern Connecticut State University to face a combination of teams who are ahead of them in the standings. BSU will either sink or swim in the remaining weeks of the season, jockeying for a solid postseason spot, most importantly a home match-up.
Brendan Coughlin is the Sports Editor for The Comment.
