Bridgewater State Runs Past Fitchburg State, 17-9

Bartlett paces Falcons with a team-best five points

FITCHBURG, Mass. (March 31, 2012) – Bridgewater State's Taylor Clancy (Braintree, Mass./Braintree) led all scorers with a game-high six points as the Bears defeated the Fitchburg State women's lacrosse team, 17-9 in New England Women's Lacrosse Alliance action this afternoon.

Clancy paced the high-scoring Bridgewater attack, totaling six goals on the afternoon, while Melanie Appleman (Hyannis, Mass./Barnstable) added three points with a trio of markers. Freshman Riley Cachelin (Westwood, Mass./Westwood) was also strong with two tallies in the contest, while six other Bears all contributed goals.

For the Falcons, junior Jessica Bartlett (Marlborough, Mass./Marlborough) notched a team-best five points, posting three goals and two assists, while classmate Kristin Dooley (Salem, Mass./Salem) connected for three points with a pair of makers and one dish.

In the first half, Fitchburg State jumped out to an early 3-0 lead as Dooley, Bartlett and Kelly Finamore (Weymouth, Mass./Weymouth) hit on consecutive scores, but Bridgewater State rallied right back, knotting the score at 5-5 with a five goal surge. Appleman and Clancy led the run with two goals apiece, while Cachelin chipped in with one of her two markers on the afternoon.

The Bears took over the lead for good with 9:19 remaining in the first half as they closed the period with a 3-1 rally to post a 8-6 advantage at the break. Clancy and Kinsley Willis (Canton, Mass./Canton) put Bridgewater State on top 7-5 with back-to-back markers, but a Lindsey White (Hanover, Mass./Hanover) marker by the Falcons kept Fitchburg State within one (7-6). Clancy added the final score of the stanza to give the Bears their two goal margin.

In the second half, Bridgewater State's offense took over, outscoring the Falcons 9-3 to post its first conference victory. Clancy was the lone Bear with multiple goals, while Appleman, Cachelin, Sammi Salverio (Hanson, Mass./Whitman-Hanson), Stephanie Lannon (Swampscott, Mass./Swampscott), Carly Campbell (Mansfield, Mass./Mansfield), Samantha Devine (Marshfield, Mass./Marshfield) and Michelle Navoni (Mansfield, Mass./Mansfield) all added tallies. Senior Carissa Kennedy (Somerset, Mass./Bishop Stang) added a pair of goals for the Falcons.

Bridgewater State held a slim lead in shots throughout the contest, holding a 27-24 margin, but Fitchburg State dominated the draw, collecting a 17-10 advantage. The Bears picked up a 20-15 edge in groundballs, while forcing 19 Falcon turnovers.

In net, sophomore Dylana Drolette (Burlington, Vt./Burlington) collected three saves for Fitchburg State, while counterpart Victoria Moore (Duxbury, Mass./New Hampton Prep) notched six stops in 51 minutes of work for Bridgewater.

Fitchburg State (3-4, 1-1 NEWLA) will be back in action on Tuesday as it hosts Wheaton College at 7 p.m. Bridgewater State (3-5, 1-0 NEWLA) will host Plymouth State on Tuesday at 7 p.m.