Fitchburg State Blanks Western Connecticut, 2-0

Taylor Van Ahnen earns first shutout of season with Falcons win

DANBURY, Conn. (September 13, 2008) - The Fitchburg State field hockey team collected its second straight victory with a 2-0 shutout over Western Connecticut State University in Little East Conference action this afternoon.

HEATHER JEROME

Freshman Heather Jerome (New Bedford, Mass./New Bedford) and sophomore Megan Jacobs (Stoughton, Mass./Stoughton) led the Fitchburg State offensive attack with one goal apiece, while senior Eleni Aidonidis (Winchendon, Mass./Saint Bernard's) and classmate Paula Bartalamia (Tewksbury, Mass./Tewksbury Memorial) added one assist.

After a scoreless first half, Fitchburg State opened the scoring just ten minutes into the second half as Jerome netted her first collegiate goal off a pass from Aidonidis. The Falcons increased their lead to 2-0 late in the second frame  when Jacobs deposited her first goal of the season off a dish from Bartalamia.

Western Connecticut controlled the pace of the match, out-shooting Fitchburg State 14-11 with a 10-6 advantage in corners, but the Falcons put six shots on net to preserve the victory. Sophomore goaltender Taylor Van Ahnen (Seekonk, Mass./Seekonk) collected four saves in win for the Falcons, while sophomore goaltender Christina Natale (Farmington, Conn./Farmington) stopped four shots for the Colonials.           

Fitchburg State (2-1, 1-0 LEC) is back in action on Thursday as it travels to Saint Joseph College of Maine at 4:30 p.m. Western Connecticut State University (1-4, 0-1 LEC) is set to travel to Southern Maine on Saturday at 12 p.m.

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Fitchburg State 2, Western Connecticut 0

Scoring:
First Half: NONE
Second Half:  FSC: Heather Jerome (Eleni Aidonidis), 44:16; FSC: Megan Jacobs (Paula Bartalamia), 67:59;
Goaltending: FSC: Taylor Van Ahnen (70:00), four saves; WCS: Christina Natal (70:00), four saves
Shots On Goal: FSC: 11;WCS: 11;