With a win over Castleton on Thursday, #3 seeded Bridgewater State College advances to in the semifinal match versus #2 seeded Curry College. This game will be a rematch from the season opener. BSC first faced Curry, in Florida, in the opening game of the season. Bridgewater lost the game 9-18.Head coach Erika Smith said this squad is a completely different team than the one that faced Curry at the beginning of the season.
"It will be a totally different game this time around," said Coach Smith. "Before it was the very first game of the season and I think we were overwhelmed in Florida. Now we are a smarter team and more together."
Curry College brings an 14-4 record to the match and is 3-0 versus opponents that Bridgewater State has beaten (Worcester State, Lassell, and Salve).
Freshman attacker Shannon Manning said its going to be a battle because both teams are pretty evenly matched.
"It should be a fair match and a really good game," said Manning. "It will be a battle of who wants it more because both teams are so evenly balanced."
Cote said that everyone on the team has been excited for the rematch versus Curry College.
"This is what we have worked for all season," said senior defenseman Kathleen Cote. "Its the matchup that everyone has been looking forward to once we found out we would play Curry if we advanced."Coach Smith said that the ECAC Tournament is an exciting opportunity for her squad.
"The last time we were here was in 2004 when I was a senior on the team," said Smith. "With 9 wins, up from last years 4 wins, its a huge improvement. It shows what kind of team we really are."
Cote said that as a senior she is happy to take play in the ECAC Tournament.
"I think we have a good chance of winning this tournament," said Cote. "We have worked hard all season, and it would be great to win the whole thing in my senior year."
Manning said that as a freshman, she is having a good time playing in the ECAC's.
"I think this is just a really awesome experience," said Manning. "We deserve to be here and I'm just phyked that we have the opportunity to play in this tournament."
The winner of this matchup will play the winner of #1 seeded Plymouth State versus #4 seeded Worcester State. Bridgewater State and Curry College will play at 6 pm at Curry, in Milton.
The winners of the semifinal matches will play in the ECAC Eastern Championship game on Saturday.
Photo 1: Junior midfielder Kathryn Sweeney tries to get around the Castleton defender
Photo 2: Freshman attacker Kate DeMaio tries to dig the ball out of the turf
Photos courtesy of Steven M Miller, Jr
ECAC Tournament bracket
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