WPI Slips Past Fitchburg State, 2-1 (2OT)

Holewa sets new single game saves record with 24 stops for Falcons

FITCHBURG, Mass. (September 9, 2014) – Junior forward Caroline Mazzola (Harvard, Mass.) tallied the game-winning score 5:35 into the second overtime to propel WPI over Fitchburg State, 2-1 in double overtime in non-conference field hockey action at Elliot Field this evening.

In the opening frame, WPI put seven shots on frame but Falcon goalkeeper Lucy Holewa (Londonderry, N.H.) was outstanding in goal, turning aside all seven shots she face in the frame to keep the Engineers off the board through 35 minutes of play.

Following a scoreless first half, the Crimson and Grey took the lead at the 44:38 mark as senior midfielder Nicole Holmes (Plymouth, Mass.) was able to put home a rebound following a pair of shots by junior Amy Misera (Hunt Valley, Md.) and senior Libby Richardson (Uxbridge, Mass.) for her second marker on the season to put the Engineers up 1-0.

The Falcons answered roughly 11 minutes later when sophomore forward Julia Pecoraro (Yarmouth, Mass.) collected a loose ball off a shot from junior Julia Gimenez (Framingham, Mass.) and fired a shot into the upper left corner of the net to knot the score at 1-1 to send the game into overtime.

After a scoreless first overtime period, WPI extended its winning streak to four games as Mazzola was able to settle ball inside the shooting circle after a shot off the stick of junior Grace Davis (Sandwich, Mass.) and deposit the ball inside the near post for the game-winning tally with her second score of the season, resulting in the 2-1 final.

Throughout the match, WPI controlled the offensive end, out shooting Fitchburg State by a 32-8 margin while holding a 22-1 advantage in penalty corners. In the cage, Holewa was stellar for the Falcons, finishing with a new single game record 24 saves in the complete game effort, while junior Lauren Puishys (Oxford, Mass.) recorded four stops in the victory for the Engineers.

Fitchburg State (1-2, 0-0 LEC) will be back in action on Saturday as it hosts the Owls of Keene State College at 10 a.m. WPI (4-0, 0-0 NEWMAC) will host Elms College on Saturday for a contest starting at 1:30 p.m.