Fitchburg State Slithers Past Nichols, 2-1

Falcons snap Bison's 13-game win streak with Bartalamia's game-winner

DUDLEY, Mass. (October 15, 2009) - The Fitchburg State field hockey team snapped Nichols College 13-game win streak as the Falcons defeated the Bison, 2-1 in non-conference action this evening. 

Senior forward Paula Bartalamia (Tewksbury, Mass./Tewksbury) registered four points on a pair of goals to lead Fitchburg State to its ninth victory of the season. Bartalamia got the visiting Falcons on the board just over a minute into the game as freshman Jamie Kelley (Pepperell, Mass./North Middlesex) came flying up the far sideline and fired the ball into the circle. Bartalamia was perched at the net front to knock in the goal at 1:07.

The one-goal lead stood until the pair connected again in the 27th minute on almost an identical play for a two-goal advantage at 26:49. Fitchburg State looked to edge ahead again in the 41st minute when Torey Van Ahnen (Seekonk, Mass./Seekonk) was awarded a penalty stroke, but Nichols goalkeeper Krista-Jean Forand (Plymouth, Mass.) was up to the task.

Nichols closed the gap in the 47th minute as Chelsea Correia (Seekonk, Mass./Seekonk) finished off a pass in front of the net from Eileen Clinton (Londonderry, N.H./Londonderry). The play originated on a corner set, but got held up in the circle before Clinton collected the loose ball and tipped it across to Correia.

Junior goaltender Taylor Van Ahnen (Seekonk, Mass./Seekonk) made nine saves for her sixth win of the season, while Forand took the loss with two saves in the first 48 minutes. Senior MaryKate Bednarz (Springfield, Mass./Springfield) finished out the game with one save.

Fitchburg State (9-3, 6-1 LEC) will be in action again on Saturday as it travels to Plymouth State University at 3 p.m. Nichols (13-1, 6-0 TCCC) will visit the University of New England on Saturday at 1 p.m.

CLICK HERE FOR BOX SCORE & PLAY-BY-PLAY

Fitchburg State 2, Nichols 1

 Scoring:
First Half: FIT: Paula Bartalamia (Jamie Kelley), 1:07;  FIT: Bartalamia (Kelley), 26:49;
Second Half: NIC: Chelsea Correia (Eileen Clinton), 46:40;
Goaltending: FIT: Taylor Van Ahnen (100:00), nine saves; NIC: Kristina Jean-Forand (48:11), four saves; MaryKate Bednarz (21:49), one save.
Shots: FIT: 11; NIC: 17