Fitchburg State Defeats UMass Dartmouth, 9-5

Finamore nets hat-trick in Falcons second victory of the season

FITCHBURG, Mass. (March 26, 2011) – Junior Kelly Finamore (Weymouth, Mass./Weymouth) registered a team-best three goals to lead the Fitchburg State women's lacrosse team to a 9-5 non-conference victory over UMass Dartmouth this afternoon.  

Finamore paced a balanced Fitchburg State attack as six different players found the back of the net for the Falcons. Classmate Amanda Burns (Weymouth, Mass./Weymouth) added a pair of goals on the afternoon, while Cassandra Benoit (N. Dartmouth, Mass./Dartmouth), Carissa Kennedy (Somerset, Mass./Bishop Stang), Connie Perry (Reading, Mass./Reading Memorial) and Tessa Leahy (Cohasset, Mass./Cohasset) all tallied single markers.

Fitchburg State opened an early 5-1 lead midway through the first period and never looked back as the Falcons cruised to their second victory of the season. With the score knotted at 1-1 just seven minutes into the game, the Falcons rifled off four unanswered goals for a commanding lead heading into the break. Burns (2) and Finamore (1) combined for three goals in the surge, while Leahy chipped in with her first goal of the season with 10:21 left to play in the half.

The Falcons opened the second half just as strong, posting back-to-back markers in the opening 34 seconds. Kennedy lifted the Falcons off the opening draw control with an unassisted tally, while Benoit hit home just 12 seconds later. Fitchburg State capped its scoring just six minutes later, opening a seven point margin with a pair of goals from Perry and Finamore.

UMass Dartmouth cashed in down the stretch, posting a trio of scores for a 9-5 deficit but the Fitchburg State offense controlled possession for the remainder of the contest to hold off a Corsair comeback. Freshman Dylana Drolette (Burlington, Vt./Burlington) was stellar in net for the Falcons, stopping ten shots, including eight in the second half, while Angelina Donovan (Medford, Mass./Medford) made nine saves for the Corsairs.       

Senior Stephanie Kinchla (Falmouth, Mass./Falmouth) led the UMass Dartmouth offense with two points on two goals scored, while junior Allison O'Rourke (Weymouth, Mass./Weymouth), senior Larissa Basque (Plainville, Mass./King Phillip) and Kaitlyn Cleverdon (Mendon, Mass./Mendon) all notched single scores.

Fitchburg State (2-0, 0-0 NEWLA) will be back in action on Tuesday as it hosts Plymouth State University at 4 p.m. UMass Dartmouth (1-3, 0-0 LEC) will host Worcester State University on Wednesday at 4 p.m.