Fitchburg State Cruises Past Becker, 5-1

Five different Falcons net goals in non-conference victory

FITCHBURG, Mass. – The Fitchburg State Falcons Field Hockey team opened their 2016 campaign with their first victory of the season, defeating the visiting Becker College Hawks by the final score of 5-1 with all five of the goals coming during an offensive first-half for the host team. Fitchburg's defense was flawless in the first-period as the Hawks were unable to get a shot on net.

The Green and Gold scored early and often in their first home contest of the season and went to the locker room with a comfortable 5-0 lead following the first-half buzzer. The barrage began with 24:35 to-go when senior Erin Morrissey broke through for the first goal of the season, lofting her shot over Becker's goalkeeper Elysabeth Jefferies.

Morrissey continued to help the Falcons offensively when she found classmate Madeline Hoffman on an assist with the midfielder converting a shot in crowded space in front of the net for the second goal of the contest.

The Green and Gold continued the offensive half with three more unanswered goals as sophomore Molly Richard and junior Casey Noonan each netted their first of the season, while freshman Taylor Eyles converted the first goal of her collegiate career on an odd-angled shot beside the net with 9:54 remaining in the half.

The two teams returned to the field following the intermission and duked it in a defensive second-half which saw the Falcons outshoot the opposition 6-to-4, before the Hawks got their first goal of the season with 11:40 remaining as junior Marissa Domenech broke the shutout for her team, finding the back of the cage in heavy traffic in front of the net.

Each offense had chances to score during the final ten minutes of play, but strong defenses prevailed throughout the rest of the game and the final buzzer sounded with the 5-1 final score.

For Fitchburg State, Morrissey finished with a game-best three points on one assist and a goa,l while sophomore goalkeeper Brittany Linane picked up the victory in net with a scoreless 35:00 minutes during the first-half.

Fitchburg State controlled the shot total by a wide-margin, 20-to-4, and took nine corners in the contest, converting a goal on one, while Jefferies logged all 70 minutes in net, making seven saves, while being charged with her first loss of the year.  

Fitchburg State University (1-0, 0-0 LEC) will delve into Little East Conference play during the first week of the season, hosting Plymouth State at 7 P.M. on Wednesday September 7th at Elliot Field. Becker College (0-1, 0-0 NECC) returns to their home confines on Saturday September 3rd when they host Lasell College at 11 A.M.  

Release courtesy of Fitchburg State student journalist Kyle Prudhomme

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