BRIDGEWATER, Mass. - Sophomore Shannon Manning (Framingham, Mass.) scored four goals and added four assists Saturday afternoon to lead the Bridgewater State College women's lacrosse team to a 21-9 victory over Plymouth State University in the regular season finale.

            The Bears snapped a nine-game losing streak to Panthers with the win.  The last time Bridgewater defeated Plymouth was in the NEWLA championship game in 1999.  Bridgewater ends the regular season with a record of 12-4 as the Bears have won seven of their last eight games.  Plymouth completes the season with a 1-11 mark.  Eight of PSU's 11 losses were to teams with winning records, including three nationally-ranked schools.

            Leading 5-3 midway through the first half, the Bears tallied eight straight goals to end the half and take control of the game.  Plymouth scored five of the first six goal of the second stanza to cut the deficit to 14-8, but BSC outscored the Panthers 7-1 over the final 22 minutes to secure the win.

            BSC senior Lauryn Serratore (Norwood, Mass.) scored four goals and assisted on another.  She also came within two draw controls of the Bears' single-game record as she was credited with 13 draws on the afternoon.  Freshmen Courtney Lennon (Medfield, Mass.) and Jenny Jones (Framingham, Mass.) also filled up the score sheet for BSC as they tallied five goals and four goals respectively.  Sophomore netminder Meghan Griffin (Billerica, Mass.) turned aside eight shots to pick up her seventh win of the season for the Bears.

            Sophomore Taylor Cambal (West Yarmouth, Mass.) paced the Panthers with five goals and an assist.  Senior Sarah Beebe (Rumson, N.J.) made 15 saves between the pipes in the loss.

            Bridgewater held a 43-21 advantage in shots for the game, as well as a 24-7 edge in draw controls. The Bears converted 4-of-7 free position attempts, while Plymouth State finished 1-for-3.

            Bridgewater State will host Westfield State College in the semifinals of the 2008 New England Women's Lacrosse Alliance (NEWLA) Tournament.  The Bears are the top seed in the tournament as they were undefeated in conference play this season with a perfect 7-0 mark.           

(Courtesy of Bridgewater State Sports Information) 

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