Fitchburg State Ties With Mass. Maritime, 2-2 (2 OT)

Norden and Floeck notch one goal apiece for Falcons 

FITCHBURG, Mass. – The Fitchburg State women's soccer team battled Mass. Maritime Academy to a 2-2 double overtime draw this afternoon in Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) action at Elliot Field.

Mass. Maritime opened the scoring in the 17th minute of play as junior Emily Behen collected a loose ball 20 yards out and fired a shot into the upper right corner of the net for her team-leading third tally of the season for the 1-0 lead.

The Falcons knotted the score (1-1) at the 31:50 mark when sophomore Abbey Norden received a feed from senior Sierra Santos and deposited the ball inside the near post for her first score on the year.

Fitchburg State nearly took the lead with just over three minutes remaining in the stanza as junior Jacqueline Walker headed a corner kick off the foot of senior Kayla Bridges that appeared to be going into the net, but Buccaneers defender Mariah McGrath deflected the ball off the goal line to preserve the 1-1 stalemate going into the break.

Following the break, the Green and Gold regained the lead in the 77th minute when sophomore forward Victoria Floeck took a pass from classmate Samantah Zina and slipped the ball into the back of the net for the 2-1 margin.

The Buccaneers would tie the match (2-2) with just 54 second left in regulation as McGrath struck for her first collegiate tally to send the game into overtime. In extra time, Fitchburg State threatened at the 93:16 mark when senior Kimberly Carroll collected a rebounded shot off the post and rifled a shot on target but Mass. Maritime goaltender Katie Levesque made a diving save to her left, resulting in the 2-2 double overtime draw.

Throughout the contest, Fitchburg State controlled the offensive end, out shooting Mass. Maritime 40-6 (18-5 on target), while limiting the Buccaneers to just two corner kick. In net, senior Kelsey Ford registered three saves for Fitchburg State in the complete game effort, while Levesque made 15 stops for Mass. Maritime in 110 minutes of action.

Fitchburg State (2-6-1, 0-1-1 MASCAC) will be back in action on Tuesday as it travel to New England College for a contest starting at 7 p.m. Mass. Maritime Academy (1-4-3, 0-1-1 MASCAC) will visit Fisher College on Wednesday at 6 p.m.