Westfield State Fights Off Fitchburg State, 18-12

Burns tallies six points in the Falcons first NEWLA setback

FITCHBURG, Mass. (April 3, 2010) – The Fitchburg State women’s lacrosse team battled Westfield State College this evening, falling to the Owls 18-12 in New England Women’s Lacrosse Alliance action.

Sophomore Amanda Burns (Weymouth, Mass./Weymouth) continued her hot-shooting for Fitchburg State, netting five goals and one assist for a team-best six points, while freshman Jamie Kelley (Pepperell, Mass./North Middlesex) added a trio of scores. Seniors Emily Swan (Franklin, Mass./Franklin) and Tori D’Amato (Hampden, Mass./Merrimack) were also strong with a pair of markers, while junior Tessa Leahy (Cohasset, Mass./Cohasset) rounded out the Falcons attack with two assists.

Westfield State received a valiant effort from its top offensive duo as junior Laura Chiricosta (Lexington, Mass./Lexington) and Carly Keeley (Feeding Hills, Mass./Agawam) combined for 15 points, including eight Owl goals. Chiricosta had a sensational night on the offensive end, totaling a game-best nine points with two goals and seven assists, while Kelley added six markers. Junior Rachel Dionne (Feeding Hills, Mass./Agawam) added five points to the mix with four goals and one dish, while Becca Kelley (Westfield, Mass./Westfield) topped the Owls elite scorers with three scores and two helpers.

The Owls jumped out to an early 3-0 lead just two minutes into the contest as Kelley and Keeley rifled off three straight goals, but Fitchburg State fought back, bringing the score to a one point battle (5-4) at the 22:45 mark. Both teams traded scores over the next eight minutes with the Owls clinging to a one point lead, but Westfield State’s Kelley hit home with 21 seconds remaining in the half for a 7-5 Owl lead at the break. 

In the second half, play continued to be tight as Fitchburg State rallied from its two goal deficit to even the score at 9-9 at the 37:34 mark. D’Amato, Burns and Swan opened the period with a trifecta of goals for the Falcons, while J. Kelley brought the game to a 9-9 deadlock with the equalizer.

Westfield State responded in timely fashion, grabbing a three goal lead less than four minutes later. Kelley, Dionne and Keeley each added tallies in the scoring surge before the Owls pressured with three unanswered goals down the stretch to clinch their fourth victory of the year.

The Owls held a slim 34-31 advantage in shots, while the Falcons controlled the draw with a 19-13 advantage in draw controls. Freshman Abbie Brown (Westwood, Mass./Westwood) suffered the loss in net for Fitchburg State, stopping five shots in 43 minutes of work, while Britta Anderson (Holden, Mass./Wachusett Regional) earned the Owl victory with 11 saves between the pipes.

Fitchburg State (5-3, 1-1 NEWLA) will be back in action on Tuesday as it travels to Southern Maine at 4 p.m. Westfield State (4-1, 1-0 NEWLA) will host Norwich University on Tuesday at 4 p.m.

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Westfield State 18, Fitchburg State 12