Fitchburg State Holds Off Wentworth, 17-16

Laferriere nets ten goals in Falcons non-conference victory

FITCHBURG, Mass. (April 21, 2014) –The Fitchburg State women's lacrosse team was in action this evening, defeating the Leopards of Wentworth Institute, 17-16 in non-conference action at Elliot Field.

The Falcons receive a stellar offensive output from freshman Ali Laferriere (Tyngsboro, Mass.), who tallied a game-best ten points on ten scores and 15 draw controls, while classmate Kayla Panek (Belchertown, Mass.) posted four points on three markers and one helper. Seniors Markie Apple (Pittsfield, Mass.) and Erin Murphy (Warwick, R.I.) were also solid adding two goals each for the hosts.

For Wentworth, junior Alexandra Banks (Ellington, Conn.) led the way, totaling six points on five tallies and one assist, while freshman Molly Dufresne (Plaistow, N.H.) chipped in with five points on five scores.

The Leopards raced out to an early 4-1 lead in the opening five minutes of play on a trio of goals from Banks and one from Dufresne before the Falcons closed out the half with a 8-3 run of their own. Laferriere ignited Fitchburg State's first half offense with five markers, while Apple chipped in pair of scores as the Falcons took a 9-7 advantage into the break.

In the second half, the visitors knotted the score (9-9) on back-to-back goals by Dufrense and Banks in the first minute of the stanza as the two squads traded scores throughout the rest of the frame. With the score 16-14, Fitchburg State secured their seventh victory of the season as Murphy converted a free position shot with 10:59 remaining in the contest en-route to the 17-16 final.

Fitchburg State held a 37-26 advantage in shots and a commanding 22-13 margin in draw controls, while the Leopards registered 28 ground balls including a game-best nine by junior Jessica Houghton (Billerica, Mass.). In net, sophomore Elizabeth Darrigo (Billerica, Mass.) picked up the win, making seven saves in the complete game effort for the Falcons, while junior Robyn Pacini (Stoneham, Mass.) suffered the setback, stopping 14 shots for the Leopards in 60 minutes of work.

Fitchburg State (7-7, 3-2 MASCAC) returns to action on Wednesday as it visits the Chargers of Colby-Sawyer College at 4:30 p.m. Wentworth (3-11, 0-7 TCCC) hosts the University of New England on Wednesday at 7 p.m.