Fitchburg State Shuts Downs Framingham State, 5-0

Richard nets hat-trick for Falcons in key LEC victory

FITCHBURG. Mass – Fitchburg State sophomore forward Molly Richard picked up her third career hat-trick to propel the Falcons field hockey team past the Framingham State Rams, 5-0 in Little East Conference (LEC) this evening at Elliot Field as the Green and Gold hosted it's fourth annual Play4TheCure game.

Fitchburg State controlled the first-half, scoring two goals in the opening 35 minutes of play as junior forward Casey Noonan scored her fourth marker of the season just 3:17 into the contest, off a feed from classmate Kerra Anastasia in-behind the defense for the 1-0 advantage.

Later in the half, Richard added her first marker of the game as junior Bailey Miller found Richard in the front of the cage, rifling the shot toward the top of the net to make the score 2-0 going into the intermission.

Following the break, Fitchburg State upped its advantage (3-0) in the 48th minute of action when Richard struck for her second goal on the evening, working with senior Madeline Hoffman on the give-and-go before sending her shot into the back of the cage.

With 16:00 minutes left in the game, Fitchburg State sophomore Maggie Gallagher scored an unassisted tally, sneaking her shot just inside the right post for her first collegiate marker for the 4-0 margin. 

Moments later, Richard continued her solid play in the conference bout when she completed the hat-trick, re-directing a ball headed for the end line, and putting it toward the target for the 22nd marker in her short career.

Richard finished the contest with a game-high seven shots for the Falcons, including five shots on target while seniors Erin Morrissey and Hoffman each finished with two shots apiece. For Framingham State, sophomore Meaghann Ackerman finished with a team-high two shots for the Rams.

Throughout the contest, Fitchburg State finished with a commanding 16-2 advantage in shots, while also holding a 7-2 margin in penalty corners. In between the pipes, junior Jordyn Conwayturned aside two second half shots for the Falcons in 35 minutes of work, while sophomore Haley Duggan posted four saves for the Rams in the complete game effort.

Fitchburg State (6-3, 4-3 LEC) returns to action on Saturday October 8th as it travels to Worcester State for a 10:00 A.M. contest. Framingham State (2-8, 1-6 LEC) will take on Anna Maria College for a non-conference road contest on Tuesday, October 4th at 4:00 P.M.

Release courtesy of Fitchburg State University student journalist Kyle Prudhomme

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