SOUTH HADLEY, Mass. - Junior attack Victoria McDonough scored a game-high six goals with two assists to lead Bridgewater State University to victory over Mount Holyoke College in non-conference action on Friday evening. The 15-5 victory moves the Bears to 1-0 on the season, while the Lyons slip to 1-1 overall.
In addition to her point efforts, McDonough (Marshfield, Mass./Marshfield) also had 10 shots (seven on goal) with three ground balls, four draw controls and three caused turnovers. Sophomore midfielder Emily Hiller (Marion, Mass./Old Rochester Regional) added four goals and two assists with five ground balls, while senior middie Elizabeth Ettridge (Marshfield, Mass./Marshfield) had two goals and an assist with a team-high six ground balls. Classmate and fellow midfielder Lisa Moynihan (Norwood, Mass./Norwood) led all players in the contest with six draw controls.
For the Lyons, rookie attack Abby Baldwin (Florence, Mass./Northampton) recorded a team-high three goals while also adding a game-best seven ground balls with four draw controls and a game-best three caused turnovers. Senior attack Deyscha Smith (Boston, Mass./Academy of the Pacific Rim) had a goal as well, while first year Caroline Flynn (Williamstown, Mass./Mount Greylock Regional) recorded a free position tally.
In goal, junior Hayley Barner (Westwood, Mass./Westwood) earned the win with eight saves, while for the Lyons, junior Mia Wysocki (Longmeadow, Mass./Longmeadow) shouldered the loss with three saves over 40:16 of action. Sophomore Sophia Brooks-Randall (Providence, R.I./St. Mary Academy-Bay View) came on in relief for the final 19:44, recording two stops.
Holding a 2-1 edge just 10 minutes into the contest, the visiting Bears went on a run with three straight goals, including three from McDonough, to grab a 6-2 advantage. The Lyons countered as Baldwin recorded a pair of goals, her second which was assisted by junior midfielder and captain Julianna Rankin (Annapolis, Md./Annapolis), but BSU grabbed another tally just before halftime for the 7-4 edge.
McDonough came out firing once more in the second half as the Bears scored five straight goals in the opening eight minutes, three off her own stick, for an 11-4 score. Flynn pulled the homestanding Lyons back with a free position tally, but four straight goals, including back-to-back from Ettridge, sealed the victory.
BSU held a 27-15 advantage in shots for the contest, also owning the edge in draw controls with a 14-7 margin. The Lyons clipped the Bears in ground balls, 30-29.
Mount Holyoke returns to action on Tuesday when it travels to Westfield State for a 5pm contest. Bridgewater State returns to the field next Saturday when it hosts the University of New England at 1pm.
