UMass Boston Stuns Fitchburg State, 4-3

Marrone nets first collegiate score in Falcons non-conference setback

FITCHBURG, Mass. (September 22, 2009) - The Fitchburg State women's soccer team suffered a heart-breaking loss, falling to UMass Boston, 4-3 in non-conference action this evening.

After scoring three, first-half goals, UMass Boston stymied the Fitchburg State offense, holding the Falcons scoreless for the final 50 minutes of the game. Sophomore Molly Kuchar (Ashville, N.C./A.C. Reynolds) put the Beacons on top late in the contest, netting the eventual game-winner at the 62:46 mark for her first score of the season.

In an action-packed first half, Fitchburg State converted three of its five shots on net to take a 3-2 advantage into the break. Sophomore Julie Dowson (Winthrop, Mass./Winthrop) started the Falcons scoring surge with her first marker of the season at the 17:34 mark, while Fitchburg State inherited an own goal in the 28th minute.

Sophomore Kristen Mulry (Holbrook, Mass./Hingham) notched two scores in the opening half for the Beacons, but sophomore Katrina Marrone (Springfield, Mass./Springfield Central) broke the 2-2 deadlock for the Falcons, connecting for her first collegiate goal off senor Lauren Wundt's (Southwick, Mass./Southwick) feed in the 40^th minute.

Action continued to fire in the second half as both teams came out gunning for the go ahead score. UMass Boston struck early as Mulry completed her hat-trick effort with a tally in the 54th minute, before giving way to Kuchar who blasted the game-winner from the right-side flank.

Fitchburg State created ample opportunities throughout the second frame of play as junior Courtney Kimball (Plymouth, Mass./Plymouth North) posted two consecutive shots on net but senior keeper Jessica Penta (Revere, Mass./Revere) made back-to-back diving saves at both corners of the goal to deny the Falcons.

The Green and Gold held a slim advantage in both shots (13-12) and corner kicks (1-0), but the Falcons couldn't muster its season-high fourth goal as Penta stopped all three Fitchburg State attempts in the second half. Senior Emily Swan (Franklin, Mass./Franklin) notched three saves despite the loss.     

Fitchburg State (2-5-0, 0-1-0 MASCAC) will be back in action on Thursday as it travels to Castleton State at 4:30 p.m. UMass Boston (4-2-0, 1-0-0 LEC) will travel to Lesley College on Thursday at 8 p.m.

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UMass Boston 4, Fitchburg State 3

Scoring:
First Half: FIT: Julie Dowson (Meagan Belanger), 17:34; UMB: Kristin Mulry, 26:17; FIT: Own Goal, 27:08; UMB: Mulry, 31:47; FIT: Katrina Marrone (Lauren Wundt), 39:46;
Second Half: UMB: Mulry, 53:57; UMB: Molly Kuchar (Julienne  McCuish), 62:46;
Goaltending: FIT: Emily Swan (90:00), three saves; UMB: Jessica Penta (90:00), five saves;
Shots: FIT: 13 ; UMB: 12