WPI Takes Season Opener From Fitchburg State, 1-0

Brown boasts seven saves for Falcons in first collegiate contest

WORCESTER, Mass. (September 3, 2009) - The Fitchburg State field hockey team opened its 2009 campaign this afternoon, falling to WPI, 1-0 in non-conference action.

Sophomore Celina Dopart (Washington, D.C./Sidewell Friends School) scored the lone goal for the Engineers as she collected a long pass from classmate Danielle Antonellis (Duxbury, Mass./Duxbury) in the 45th minute and connected for her fourth career goal.

The game was hard fought from both sides with Fitchburg State being the aggressor. The Falcons outshot the Engineers 12-9 in the contest, while holding a 15-6 advantage in penalty corners, but the Crimson and Gray got a lift early in the match as tri-captain Kelly Johnson (Buxton, Maine/Bonny Eagle) collected a defensive save just three minutes into the match.

Freshman goaltender Abbie Brown (Westwood, Mass./Westwood) was solid in net for the Falcons, recording seven stops in her first collegiate contest. WPI senior goaltender Allie Griffin (Billerica, Mass./Billerica) matched Brown throughout the match, collecting eight saves in net for her first career shutout.

Fitchburg State (0-1, 0-0 LEC) will be back in action this weekend as it hosts Thomas College on Saturday at 12 p.m. WPI (1-0, 0-0 NEWMAC) will be in action on Saturday as well, as it hosts Lasell College at 3 p.m.

CLICK HERE FOR BOX SCORE & PLAY-BY-PLAY

WPI 1, Fitchburg State 0

Scoring:
First Half: none
Second Half: WPI: Celina Dopart (Danielle Antonellis), 45:43;
Goaltending: FIT: Abbie Brown (70:00), seven saves; WPI: Allie Griffin (70:00), eight saves
Shots: FIT: 12; WPI: 9