2019 Fitchburg State Women’s Lacrosse Schedule Announced
Falcons to open 2019 season on February 26th as they visit Rivier University
Fitchburg, Mass. – The Fitchburg State women's lacrosse team's 2019 season has been announced with the Falcons scheduled to play a total of 17 games, including three games during its annual spring trip to Port Charlotte, Florida.
The Green and Gold concluded last season with an overall record of 8-9 and a 3-4 mark within Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) play, en-route to earning the fifth seed in the 2018 MASCAC Women's Lacrosse post-season tournament.
This season, Fitchburg State is scheduled to play ten teams who won at least ten contests from a year ago, including four squads within the MASCAC.
Sophomore attack Madison Alves (Braintree, Mass.) and junior Tracy Long (Georgetown, Mass.) return as the Falcon top scoring threats after combining for 58 goals and 23 assists for a total of 76 points.
In the midfield, senior captain Nicole Lee (Quincy, Mass.) and Sarah Mallahan (Dracut, Mass.) provide leadership. Lee concluded the 2017 season with four goals, four assists, 19 groundballs and eight caused turnovers, while Mallahan added seven scores, three assists, eight groundballs and five caused turnovers.
Veteran Marguerite Belcher (Quincy, Mass.) anchors the Falcons defense in goal after posting 129 saves with a .412 save percentage and an 11.03 goals against average, while senior Jessica Hall (Dracut, Mass.) and classmate Michelle Hennessey (Londonderry, N.H.) add depth to Fitchburg State's defense.
Some of the incoming freshmen who will make an impact this season for the Green and Gold are Julie Miele, Jillian Whalen, and Riley Hess, are coming off an impress start to the off-season.
"We have a veteran defensive team with third year starting goaltender (Belcher), who is having an outstanding pre-season. I think we will be very strong defensively and on attacking the goal on offense. We have a great core of hard working young ladies who are being a great attitude to" said head coach Rick Terrio.
"The team chemistry is very good and I expect to have a great season if we stay healthy" continued Terrio, when asked of his 2019 season outlook.
"Every MASCAC game is competitive from top to bottom, with Westfield State, Framingham Sate, Bridgewater State and Framingham State coming off ten or more wins last season" said Terrio.
"No team with the conference is a given win with Salem State, Mass. Maritime and MCLA improving every year as well", Terrio continued.
The Falcons open their 2019 slate on February 26th at Rivier University before traveling to Norwich to take on the Cadets on March 1st.
During its annual spring trip to Florida, Fitchburg State will play Carroll College (3/11), Suny Canton (3/12) and Smith (3/14). The Green and Gold return north to play three non-conference games, visiting Regis (3/19) and New England College (3/23) before hosting the Corsairs of UMass Dartmouth on March 27th for their home opener.
The Falcons open Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) play on March 30th as they host the Buccaneers of Mass. Maritime before taking on the Chargers of Colby-Sawyer (4/2) at Elliot Field.
Fitchburg State goes back on the road two games as traveling to MCLA (4/6) and Eastern Connecticut State (4/10) then hosts a pair of MASCAC rivals in Framingham State (4/13) and Salem State (4/16).
The Green and Gold hit the road yet again on April 20th as they travel to Bridgewater State before visiting Worcester State on April 24th. Fitchburg State concludes its 2019 regular season on April 27th, hosting conference opponent Westfield State to close out the season.
The Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference Tournament starts on April 30th and runs through the championship game on May 4th.
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