Fitchburg State Slips Past Framingham State, 11-9

Falcons improve to 3-1 in the conference with victory over the Rams

FRAMINGHAM, Mass. (April 16, 2011) – Junior Amanda Burns (Weymouth, Mass./Weymouth) tallied a game-high five goals to lift the Fitchburg State women's lacrosse team to an 11-9 NEWLA victory over host, Framingham State University this afternoon.

Fitchburg State took an early lead just forty seconds into the game as junior Kelly Finamore (Weymouth, Mass./Weymouth) scooped a rebound and found the back of the net to give the Falcons a 1-0 edge. Framingham State responded with three goals over the next six minutes to post a 3-1 advantage, using a pair of scores fromophomore Heather Masse (Billerica, Mass.) a free-position marker from freshman Lauren Kent (Framingham, Mass.).

Fitchburg State rallied back, scoring the game's next five goals, including a trio of scores over the next five minutes to regain the lead. Burns notched four of the Falcons five markers in the surge, including back-back-goals that tied the game at 3-3.  Burns converted a free position shot at 21:47 and connected for her second of the game off a feed from Finamore forty-two seconds later.

The duo connected again with 18:58 remaining in the game to put the Falcons back on top, 6-3. Burns added an unassisted tally with just over six minutes remaining and Finamore converted a free position shot with just thirty seconds remaining in the half to give Fitchburg State a three goal margin heading into the break.

In the second half, the Rams came storming back, posting four consecutive goals to claim a 7-6 lead. Framingham State goalie Kelsey Turner (Billerica, Mass.) was outstanding in the second half making 11 of her 16 saves while keeping the Falcons silent for most of the frame. Turner kept the Falcons off the board for the first 22 minutes of the second half, but Fitchburg State finally broke scoring column as Jessica Bartlett (Marlborough, Mass./Marlborough) and Burns converted free position shots to put Fitchburg State up 8-7 with 6:07 left on the clock.

Framingham State tied the game and retook the lead on a pair of goals by Kent with 5:44 remaining, but the Falcons answered with a goal just eight seconds later from Cassandra Benoit (N. Dartmouth, Mass./Dartmouth), who controlled the draw and raced down the field to score tying the game at 9-9. The Falcons quickly retook the lead for good as Bartlett hit Samantha Bonasera (Chealsea, Vt/Chelsea) in front of the net for the game-winning tally.

Burns led all scorers in the game with five points, while Finamore added a pair of goals and a pair of assists. Freshman Dylana Drolette (Burlington, Vt./Burlington) picked up the victory in net making 13 saves including a pair of saves in the final three minutes to preserve the win.

Fitchburg State (9-1, 3-1 NEWLA) will be back in action on Monday as it travels to Rivier College at 7 p.m. Framingham State (3-6, 3-1 NEWLA) will host Lasell on Tuesday at 4:30 p.m.