Emmanuel Clips Fitchburg State, 5-2

Santos and Zina net one goal apiece for Falcons

FITCHBURG, Mass. (September 3, 2014) – The Fitchburg State women's soccer team opened the 2014 campaign this evening, dropping a 5-2 decision to Emmanuel College in non-conference action at Elliot Field.

 In the opening period, Emmanuel grabbed the lead at the 7:18 mark as junior midfielder Katelyn Fink (Sanford, Maine) took a feed from senior Kelsie Dumas (Dalton, Mass.) just outside the box and tucked the ball inside the near post for the 1-0 advantage.

Fitchburg State nearly knotted the score midway through frame when senior Sierra Santos (Lakeville, Mass.) and freshman Whitney Mansfield (Lunenburg, Mass.) put shots on target only to be denied by Saints keeper Victoria Laroche (Hudson, N.H,) to preserve the 1-0 lead after 45 minutes of play.

Following intermission, the Saints quickly upped their margin (3-0) as junior Hannah Konicki (Milford, Mass.) collected a through ball from junior Ari Cardillo (Richmond, Mass.) and deposited the ball into the back of the net in the 56th minute before Dumas struck for her first tally on the season three minutes later.

The Falcons broke its scoring silence at the 69:24 mark when senior Kimberly Carroll (Tewksbury, Mass.) crossed the ball over to Santos, who blasted a shot into the upper left corner to make the score 3-1.

Following back-to-back scores from freshman Hailey Longbottom (Holden, Mass.) to put the Saint up 5-1 in the 85th minute, sophomore back Samantha Zina (Abington, Mass.) would cap the scoring for the Falcons at the 86:42 mark with her first goal on the season, resulting in the 5-2 final.

​Throughout the contest, Emmanuel held a commanding 29-11 advantage in shots, while also posting a 4-2 margin in corner kicks. In goal, senior Kelsey Ford (Franconia, N.H.) stopped 12 shots in the setback for the Fitchburg State, Laroche registered five saves for the Saints to earn the victory.

Fitchburg State (0-1-0, 0-0-0 MASCAC) will be back in action on Saturday as it visits Bay Path College at 7 p.m. Emmanuel (2-0-0, 0-0-0 GNAC) will host Claremont M-S on Friday for a contest starting at 7 p.m.