Fitchburg State Holds Off Mount Ida, 11-9

Falcons improve to 4-0 at home behind a combined 11 point effort from Burns and Finamore

FITCHBURG, Mass. (April 11, 2011) – The Fitchburg State women's lacrosse team improved to 4-0 at home this season as the Falcons downed Mount Ida College, 11-9 in non-conference action this evening.

Junior Amanda Burns (Weymouth, Mass./Weymouth), the reigning NEWLA Offensive Player of the Week, proved to be the difference maker, scoring a game-high six points with three goals and three assists, while classmate Kelly Finamore (Weymouth, Mass./Weymouth) added to the mix, posting four scores and one dish. Sophomore Jill Shaner (Arlington, Mass./Arlington) was also solid, chipping in with a pair of  makers.

Fitchburg State controlled the first half of play, registering 16 shots and 15 groundballs in the stanza. The Falcons opened the contest with a quick 2-0 lead sparked by goals from Shaner and senior Connie Perry (Reading, Mass./Reading Memorial), but Mount Ida cut its deficit in half with a Jen Thompson (Easton, Md./Easton) score at 26:20. The Falcons and Mustangs traded goals again at the 20:07 mark, before Fitchburg State rallied off back-to-back goals (Burns/Bonasera) for a 5-2 advantage.

Clinging to a 6-4 margin at the break, Fitchburg State used steady ball control in the second half to earn its seventh victory of the season. Mount Ida opened the half strong as Danielle Chuba (Wrightstown, N.J./Northern Burlington) connected just 0:34 into the period, but the Falcons answered with a pair of goals off the sticks of Burns and Finamore to gain a three point margin (8-5).

Fitchburg State increased its lead to four (10-6) with just eight minutes remaining in the contest as Finamore and Shaner notched another Falcon pair, but the Mustangs did not go quietly, cutting the Falcon lead to only two with 0:26 remaining in regulation. Freshman Ebony Mills (Harrison, Maine/Oxford HIlls) led the charge single handily for Mount Ida, finding the back of the net twice over a span of 1:26.

The Mustang rally ended their however as the Falcons defense and freshman goaltender Dylana Drolette (Burlington, Vt./Burlington) stopped Mount Ida's last ditch efforts. Drolette finished the contest with seven saves between the pipes, while freshman Katherine Chousa (Norwood, Mass./Norwood) totaled ten stops for the visitors.

For the contest, Fitchburg State controlled the ground game, taking advantage of 28 Mount Ida turnovers and posting 27 groundballs. The Falcons grabbed a majority of the draw controls (13-9) as Perry totaled a game-high four snags and four groundballs. Mills led the Mustangs offensive efforts with four points (3 goals, 1 assists) while Thompson collected a trio of markers.

Fitchburg State (7-1, 2-1 NEWLA) will be back in action on Thursday as it hosts Curry College at 7 p.m. Mount Ida (6-6, 2-2 GNAC) will visit Simmons College on Thursday at 7 p.m.