Keene State Rains On Fitchburg State, 3-2

Bartalamia nets a pair in Falcon third LEC loss of the season

FITCHBURG, Mass. (October 24, 2009) - Senior Paula Bartalamia (Tewksbury, Mass./Tewksbury) added to her career-year, posting two goals and four points for Fitchburg State, but the Falcons fell to Keene State, 3-2 in Little East Conference action this afternoon. 

Keene State received a solid offensive effort from sophomore Aislynn Sherry (Rehoboth, Mass./Dighton-Rehoboth) who notched one goal and one assist, while freshman Alexandra Billert (Center Conway, N.H./Kennett) and senior Carly Benning (Brewster, Mass./Nauset Regional) added one score apiece. Sophomore Elizabeth Coffin (Sugar Hill, N.H./St. Johnsbury Academy) aided the Owls in one assist in the game, while junior Megan Jacobs (Stoughton, Mass./Stoughton) chipped in one helper for the Falcons.

The Owls opened the contest with an early two goal lead as Billert and Sherry found the back of the cage twice over 5:33 span. Billert put Keene State on the board first with her second goal of the season, while Sherry turned her third score of the year off a Coffin assist.

In the second half, Keene State registered its third consecutive goal, as Benning posted her team-leading 18th tally of the season. Fitchburg State put together a scoring surge late in the second half as Bartalamia registered back-to-back scores, but the Falcons come-back trail was short-lived with time expiring shortly after.

Fitchburg State held a slim 13-10 lead in shots, but Keene State made the most of its scoring opportunities, posting eight of its ten shots on net. Junior goaltender Taylor Van Ahnen (Seekonk, Mass./Seekonk) totaled five saves in the complete game effort for the Falcons, while senior Vikki Stoessel (Derry, N.H./Pinkerton Academy) stopped eight shots for the Owls.      

Fitchburg State (11-4, 8-2 LEC) will be in action again on Wednesday as it travels to Becker College at 4 p.m. Keene State (13-4, 8-2 LEC) will host New England College on Tuesday at 6 p.m.

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Keene State 3, Fitchburg State 2

Scoring:
First Half: KSC: Alexandra Billert (Erin Dallas), 18:55; KSC: Aislynn Sherry (Elizabeth Coffin), 24:28;
Second Half: KSC: Carly Benning (Aislynn Sherry), 40:50 ; FIT: Paula Bartalamia, 59:10;  FIT: Bartalamia (Megan Jacobs), 69:46;
Goaltending: FIT: Taylor Van Ahnen (70:00), five saves; KSC: Vikki Stoessel (70:00), eight saves;
Shots: FIT: 13; KSC: 10