Falcons Edged By Engineers, 4-3 (OT)

Salcedo nets first collegiate tally in non-conference setback 

Worcester, Mass. – The Fitchburg State University field hockey team dropped tough 4-3 overtime decision to the Engineers of WPI in non-conference action this evening at the Rooftop Field.

The Basics

Score: Fitchburg State 3, WPI 4

Records: Fitchburg State (8-9) I WPI (11-4)

How It Happened

WPI opened the scoring at the 8:18 mark as junior forward Abby O'Sullivan (Walpole, Mass./Walpole) gathered a loose ball in front of the cage off a rebound and deposited the ball into the back of the cage for her team-leading 18th goal of the season for the 1-0 lead.

Fitchburg State knotted the score in the ninth minute of play when senior forward Molly Richard (Leominster, Mass./St. Bernard's) fired a shot inside the near post off assists from junior Aislinn DeHorsey (Leominster, Mass./Leominster) and sophomore Sophia Laperle (Auburn, Mass./Auburn) for her tenth score on the year to make the score 1-1, going into the break.

Following the intermission, the Engineers regained the lead at the 41:42 as junior forward Bridget Sullivan (Wilmington, Mass./Wilmington) connected on her ninth marker of the year before WPI upped it margin (3-1) minutes later when junior Hannah Larochelle (New Boston, N.H./Goffstown) netted her first goal of the 2018 campaign.

The Falcons answered back in the in the 48th minute of play as freshman Yuleinny Salcedo (Lawrence, Mass./Lawrence) received a pass from DeHorsey and found the back of the cage for her first collegiate goal to cut the lead to 3-2.

The Green and Gold retied the contest (3-3) late in the second half when freshman Sarah Craig (Ashburnham, Mass./Oakmont Regional) tucked the ball inside the near post for her seventh tally on the season to force overtime.

In the overtime, WPI secured the victory at the 77:05 mark as freshman Angie Ferro (Northboro, Mass./Northboro) settled a feed from sophomore Kaitlyn Hess (Milford, N.H./Tilton School) off a penalty corner and wristed a shot inside the far post for her seventh goal of the year, resulting in the 4-3 final.

Inside the Numbers

This evening's contest will mark the 13th meeting between the two teams in the sport of field hockey with the Falcons currently 3-9-0 all-time when taking on the Engineers.

WPI has won three of the previous four matchups with Fitchburg State, including a 2-1 decision last season at Elliot Field.

In the cage, freshman Abby Bryant (Ware, Mass./Qaubbin Regional) stopped seven shots for the Falcons in the setback, while senior Karen Mushrall (Mariaville, Maine/John Baptst Memorial) made one save for the Engineers in the victory.

Senior Elizabeth McNiff (Leominster, Mass./Leominster) finished the contest with two defensive saves for Fitchburg State.

WPI held a 19-4 margin in shots, while also finishing with a 7-1 edge in penalty corners.

Up Next

Falcons will host the Rams of Framingham State University on Thursday for an LEC tilt, starting at 7:00 PM. Engineers will travel to Mount Holyoke on Saturday for a NEWMAC clash at 1:00 PM.