Gulls Bumped From ECAC Field Hockey Tournament
Nov. 7, 2007
BRIDGEWATER, MA - Senior forward Ashley Panzini (Saugus, MA) tallied a pair of goals, including the game-winner, to lead second seeded Bridgewater State College to a 3-0 shutout victory over seventh seeded Endicott College in the quarterfinal round of the 2007 ECAC Division III New England Field Hockey Tournament.
With the win, Bridgewater improves to 14-6 on the season as the Bears equal the program record for most wins in a season set back during the 1979 season. Endicott wraps up the 2007 campaign with an overall record of 11-7.
After a scoreless first half, Panzini put the Bears on top to stay as she connected for her 12th goal of the season in the 43rd minute off a feed from junior midfielder Stacey Takis (Georgetown, MA).
The Bears continued to put pressure in the offensive zone as they carried the edge in play throughout the second half. Sophomore defender Kelly Downs (Hanover, MA) was able to capitalize on a well designed penalty corner in the 54th minute. Downs took a feed from senior midfielder Courtney Sergio (West Bridgewater, MA) and blasted a shot past the Endicott keeper to give BSC the 2-0 advantage.
Panzini capped off the scoring in the 69th minute with her team-leading 13th goal of the season as she knocked home the rebound of a shot that came outside of the circle. Panzini's 13 goals are a career high and she now has 30 goals in her four seasons at Bridgewater State.
Freshman netminder Katie Weber (Arlington, MA), who entered the game to start the second half, picked up her first collegiate win as she turned aside 2 shots. Junior Chelsea DeFeo (York, ME) made 8 saves in goal for Endicott.
The Bears held a 12-5 advantage in shots for the game as well as a 14-6 edge in penalty corners. Nine of those penalty corner opportunities came in the second half alone.
Bridgewater will be home on Saturday at noontime for a semifinal round game against third seeded Nichols College. Nichols knocked off Castleton State, 5-3, in their quarterfinal match-up. If the Bears win again on Saturday, they would host the tournament championship game on Sunday at 1 PM. BSC is the highest remaining seed in the tournament thanks to Plymouth State's upset win over top-seeded Southern Maine.