Castleton State Runs Past Fitchburg State, 20-7

Burns collects a team-high four points in Falcons setback

FITCHBURG, Mass. (March 31, 2009) - Freshman Amanda Burns (Weymouth, Mass./Weymouth) registered a team-high four points as Fitchburg State fell to Castleton State, 20-7 in New England Women's Lacrosse Alliance action this afternoon.

AMANDA BURNS

Burns led all Fitchburg State scores with a team-high three goals and one assist, while picking up six groundballs and causing four turnovers. Sophomore Kaitlyn Kelley (Pepperell, Mass./North Middlesex) and classmate Tessa Leahy (Cohasset, Mass./Cohasset) added one score apiece, while junior Emily Swan (Franklin, Mass./Franklin) and freshman Kelly Finamore (Weymouth, Mass./Weymouth) each tallied a marker.

Castleton State sophomore Marie VanDerKar (Manchester, Vt./Burr & Burton) led all scorers, posting a game-best six points on six goals, while junior Stephanie Pearce (Shoreham, N.Y./Shoreham-Wading) notched five scores for the Spartans. Senior Nicole Adams (Rutland, Vt./Rutland) was also strong for Castleton, totaling five points on two goals and three assists.

Fitchburg State opened the contest strong as Kelley and Leahy connected for Falcons scores in the first seven minutes of action, but Castleton State used a 9-3 run over the final 20 minutes of the first half to grab a 12-5 lead at the break. Pearce led the Spartans first half attack with five scores, while Burns registered two goals and one assist for the Falcons.

In the second half, Castleton continued its offensive pressure, while limiting Fitchburg State to only six shots in the half. The Spartans came out firing with four unanswered goals by VanDerKar, Adams and junior Aimee Goulette (Baldwinsville, N.Y./Baldwinsville) before sealing their fourth victory of the season with two goals in the final ten minutes of play. Finamore and Burns tallied second half scores for the Falcons.

Castleton State out-shot Fitchburg State 26-14 in the contest, while holding a 31-20 advantage in groundballs. Senior Jen Astrella (Auburn, Mass./Auburn) registered 11 saves in net for the Falcons before leaving the game due to injury, while senior Francesca Mazzola (Centerport, N.Y./Harborfields) stopped three shots in net for the Spartans.

Fitchburg State (1-5, 0-2 NEWLA) will be in action again Thursday as it travels to Nichols College at 7 p.m. Castleton State (4-1, 3-0 NEWLA) will travel to Southern Maine on Thursday at 4 p.m.

CLICK HERE FOR BOX SCORE & PLAY-BY-PLAY

 Castleton State 20, Fitchburg State 7

Goals:
FIT: Amanda Burns (3), Emily Swan (1), Kelly Finamore (1), Kaitlyn Kelley (1), Tessa Leahy (1);
CSC: Marie VanDerKar (6), Stephanie Pearce (5), Nicole Adams (2), Elizabeth Haggerty (2), DeeDee Shroeder (1), Angelica (1), Aimee Goulette (1), Stephanie Paproski (1), Kristen Rochler (1);

Assists:
FIT: Burns (1), Carissa Kennedy (1);
CSC: Adams (3), Katelyn Greene (1), Haggerty (1), Schroeder (1);

Goalkeeping:
FIT: Jen Astrella (44:14), 11 saves; Jill Shaner (15:46), one save;
CSC: Francesca Mazzola (30:37), three saves; Rebecca Duszak (29:23), two saves