Fitchburg State Falls to WPI, 1-0

Holewa registers 13 saves in the Falcons non-conference setback

FITCHBURG, Mass. (October 25, 2012) – Sophomore Mercedes Kuzina (Concord, N.H./Tilton School) tallied the game-winning score with just over one minute remaining in regulation to propel WPI over Fitchburg State, 1-0 in non-conference field hockey action at Elliot Field this evening.

Following a scoreless first half, Fitchburg State nearly broke the 0-0 deadlock in the 62nd minute of play as freshman Erin Morrissey (Hubbardston, Mass./Quabbin Regional) slipped a shot past WPI net-minder Lauren Puishys (Oxford, Mass./Oxford) but freshman back SarahRose Gabor (Cazenovia, N.Y./Cazenovia) was there to made the defensive save.

Minutes later, the Falcons saw another scoring chance denied when senior Jamie Kelley (Pepperell, Mass./North Middlesex) blasted a shot from the right side that sailed just outside the near post. That set the stages for Kuzina's game winner (1-0) at the 68:38 mark as the sophomore forward took a feed from classmate Nicole Holmes (Plymouth, Mass./Plymouth North) and tucked the ball inside the right post for her third marker of the season.

In the opening frame, WPI almost grabbed the lead just 42 seconds into the contest as sophomore Mary-Lee Barboza (Rochester, Mass./Old Rochester) blasted a shot from the right of the circle but Falcon goalkeeper Lucy Holewa (Londonderry, N.H./Londonderry) was able to make the save. The Falcons best opportunity came at the 13:33 mark, when sophomore Bryana McGrath (Lunenburg, Mass./Lunenburg) fired a shot on target that was turned aside by Engineer goalie Liz Dufresne (Worcester, Mass./St. Peter-Marian) to preserve the 0-0 stalemate going into the break.

Throughout the match, WPI out shot Fitchburg State 23-12, while holding a narrow 9-6 margin in penalty corners. In the cage, Holewa collected 13 stops for the Falcons in the complete game effort, while Puishys recorded two second half saves in 35 minutes of action for the Engineers.

Fitchburg State (6-10, 2-8 LEC) will be back in action on Saturday as it hosts Worcester State University at 10 a.m. WPI (7-10, 2-6 NEWMAC) will host Elms College on Saturday for a contest starting at 4 p.m.