Fitchburg State Stunned By Westfield State, 2-1

Jacobs nets lone goal in Falcons fall to the Owls

FITCHBURG, Mass. (October 4, 2011) – Senior Megan Jacobs (Stoughton, Mass./Stoughton) registered her team-leading 16th goal of the season but the Fitchburg State field hockey team fell to Little East Conference rival, Westfield State University, 2-1 this evening at Elliot Field.

After a scoreless first half, Westfield State opened the scoring in the second frame, posting a 1-0 lead in the 45th minute off the stick of Jessica Donovan (Methuen, Mass./Methuen). Donovan hit home for her second goal of the season, using a dish from Jessi Gould (Canton, Mass./Canton), but Fitchburg State answered immediately, using Jacobs' team-best 16th goal of the season for the equalizer.

Scoring was at a premium in the second half as the Owls responded to the Falcons call just four minutes later, taking advantage of one of their 11 penalty corners of the night. Sophomore Danielle Grenon (Somerset, Mass./Somerset) picked up a loose ball after scrum in front of the net, and slipped the ball past the Falcon keeper for her second goal of the year.

Grenon's goal capped the game's scoring as Fitchburg State could not break through the tenacious Westfield back-line. The Owls commanded the tempo of the game, totaling a 20-12 margin in shots, including a 10-3 advantage in the first half. Senior Taylor Begin (Haverhill, Mass./Haverhill) registered a career-high nine saves for the Falcons, while Owls goaltender, senior Amanda McCarthy (Franklin, Mass./Franklin)  totaled four stops for the visitors.

Fitchburg State (6-5, 3-3 LEC) will be back in action on Saturday as it travels to Plymouth State at 12 p.m. Westfield State (8-3, 3-3 LEC) will visit Framingham State on Friday at 4 p.m.