Fitchburg State Downs Elms, 18-1

Falcons collect first NEWLA victory led by eight points from Swan

FITCHBURG, Mass. (April 7, 2009) - The Fitchburg State women's lacrosse picked up its first New England Women's Lacrosse Alliance victory of the season, defeating Elms College, 16-1 this evening at Elliot Field.

Fitchburg State used a balanced attack as 12 different players registered goals. Junior Emily Swan (Franklin, Mass./Franklin) led the Falcons offense with a game-high eight points on three goals and five assists, while freshman Amanda Burns (Weymouth, Mass./Weymouth) tallied three scores. Junior Tori D'Amato (Hampden, Mass./Merrimack) and freshman Kelly Finamore (Weymouth, Mass./Weymouth) were also strong with two goals and one helper each. Freshman Emily Walsh (Hadley, Mass./Hopkins Academy) tallied the lone goal for Elms.

Fitchburg State opened the contest with 12 unanswered goals to grab a commanding lead at the break. Burns and Swan each registered three first half goals for the Falcons, while D'Amato added two goals and one assist. Sophomore Megan Compiano (Georgetown, Mass./Georgetown) and classmate Tessa Leahy (Cohasset, Mass./Cohasset) each contributed a marker in the Falcons 12 goal period.

In the second frame, Fitchburg State continued to soar, tallying two consecutive goals to take a blistering 14-0 lead. Freshman Carissa Kennedy (Somerset, Mass./Bishop Stang) opened the second half scoring for the Falcons, while Finamore added her second of the contest. Walsh broke Elms' scoring silence with a tally at the 19:27 mark, but Fitchburg State recorded four more scores throughout the second half to clinch its third victory of the season.

Fitchburg State out-shot Elms 35-8 in the contest, while holding a 40-16 advantage in groundballs. Sophomore Connie Perry (Reading, Mass./Reading-Memorial) collected her first collegiate victory in net for the Falcons with two saves, while freshman Holly Braziel (Shelburne Falls, Mass./Mohawk Trail) stopped seven shots for the Blazers.

Fitchburg State (3-5, 1-2 NEWLA) will be in action again Thursday as it hosts Rhode Island College at 7 p.m. Elms (0-8, 0-4 NEWLA) will travel to Thomas College on Thursday at 3:30 p.m.

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Fitchburg State 18, Elms 1

Goals:
FIT: Emily Swan (3), Amanda Burns (3), Tori D'Amato (2), Kelly Finamore (2), Kaitlyn Kelley (1), Tessa Leahy (1), Gia Santaniello (1), Elise Gallagher (1), Carissa Kennedy (1), Kaylee Bergeron (1), Megan Compiano (1), Lindsay Taylor (1);
ELM: Emily Walsh (1);

Assists:
FIT: Swan (5), Kelley (2), D'Amato (1), Finamore (1), Leahy (1), Danielle Pelletier (1), Santaniello (1);
ELM: none

Goalkeeping:
FIT: Connie Perry (60:00), two saves
ELM: Holly Braziel (60:00), seven saves