Box Score BRISTOL, R.I. – Bridgewater State pulled off a 2-1 victory over the Roger Williams University Women's Soccer team Wednesday evening.
 
The Bears' win snaps a five-game losing streak against RWU dating back to the 2012 season.
 
The beginning part of the game was a battle for possession in the midfield. Shots were difficult to come by for both teams, with only two blocked attempts by Samantha Woznicki (Bristol, Conn.) and one shot wide by Kellsie Mitchell (Bristol, R.I.).
 
In the 14th minute, Jenny Nasser (Beverly, Mass.) sent a corner kick to short side of the goal. Ali Waxgiser (Harding, N.J.) stepped up and put short kick to the inside post, but was denied on a diving save by Lauren DeSousa (Taunton, Mass.).
 
Then in the 24th minute, Amelia Burke (Plymouth, Mass.) secured possession on the left side of the box. She tried to put one past RWU's Natalie O'Donovan (Quincy, Mass.), but sent it right at her, allowing O'Donovan to make the easy save.
 
Three minutes later, the Hawks came through with the opening goal. Waxgiser had the ball on the right side and put a good move on a Bridgewater State defender, passing the ball around her on one side and moving around her on the other. She would then bring the ball in and send a pass backwards on the left end to Jodie Lavigne (Coventry, R.I.). Lavigne chipped a long shot that bounced off the underneath of the crossbar. There appeared to be a bit of confusion at first as to whether the ball crossed the goal line, but the referees eventually confirmed the score for Roger Williams.
 
Roger Williams' lead would only last until the 34th minute, when the Bears tied the game back up. Emma Stevens (Seekonk, Mass.) had the ball on the left side with a Hawk defender attempting to kick it away. However, the ball would deflect off of Stevens and back towards the goal, giving her a clean look on net. She would send the pass just inside the left post to tie the game at one.
 
Waxgiser had a chance to put RWU back on top in the 40th minute. She had the ball at the top of the box and put up a shot that was headed for the top shelf but sailed just over the net.
 
Burke came close to putting Bridgewater State on top shortly into the second half. She made her way down the right side and put up a long shot towards the left post. The shot had the distance but just hooked wide. She would send another shot from the same area in the 50th minute but put it right at O'Donovan.
 
She would finally come through for the Bears in the 74th minute. She put up a corner kick that would eventually make its way back to her. She then kicked a long shot from the left that just curved into the right corner, giving Bridgewater State the lead.
 
The Hawks had a pair of opportunities to score in the 77th minute. Lavigne served up a long shot from the left side but was turned away off of a jumping fingertip save by DeSousa. Then less than a minute later, Kasey Provost (Peabody, Mass.) had a point-blank save in front of the goal, but DeSousa punched the shot over the net. Bridgewater State would continue to hold off the late surge by the Hawks.
 
O'Donovan and DeSousa were both busy in net, making nine saves each.
 
"It was another entertaining game tonight in Bristol," said Head Coach Tim Moody. "Both teams wanted to win and this lead to the game being very open exciting attacking soccer. It was great for the fans and spectators who were in attendance. We were very creative in our movements and excelled in a lot of areas, we had several players have their best game of the season so far.
 
"You could see what we were trying to do as well as the progress we have made since the start of the season. We were very close to scoring a similar amount of goals to the game against Framingham but their keeper was outstanding and we just missed the target with our other efforts. We had the players in the right places, we shared the ball between players very well and played at a high tempo which is everything our program promotes.
 
"We also didn't go down without a fight and we didn't throw the towel in. We made a couple of mistakes and it was costly. We have done that against other teams but really haven't been punished for those mistakes like we were tonight. The down side was we could have gone up two or three goals to nil, however we didn't find the back of the net with the ball when we were in that position.
 
"Despite the result being a disappointment, our performance and effort was far from it. We had multiple players play at a high level and contribute to the positive performance, we showed we could move players around, change our shape but our style of play stayed the same.
 
"It was a bad night on the outcome of the game and the scoreboard but we definitely showed we have strength in depth, that we can compete against an organized team as well as up our game if we go behind and have to chase the score line. On another day we will get the performance and result!"

On Saturday, Roger Williams (6-5-2) travels to Salve Regina and Bridgewater State (6-5-0) heads to Worcester State.