Framingham State Clips Fitchburg State, 13-11

Finamore paces Falcons with a game-high six points

FITCHBURG, Mass. (April 25, 2012) – The Fitchburg State women's lacrosse team hosted the Rams of Framingham State University this evening, falling 13-11 in New England Women's Lacrosse Alliance (NEWLA) action at Elliot Field.

Sophomore Lauren Kent (Framingham, Mass./Framingham) led the Framingham State offense, touching for a team-high four points with four goals scored, while junior Brittany McLean (Walpole, Mass./Walpole) also added four points with two goals and two assists. Classmate Heather Masse (Billerica, Mass./Shawsheen Tech) chipped in with a pair of markers and one dish for three points on the evening.

For the Falcons, senior Kelly Finamore (Weymouth, Mass./Weymouth) paced the offensive front with a game-high six points, including one score and five helpers, while junior Jessica Bartlett (Marlborough, Mass./Marlborough) added five points with four goals and one dish. Sophomore Chelsea Roberts (Newburyport, Mass./Newburyport) and freshman Lindsey White (Hanover, Mass./Hanover) were also strong with two goals apiece.

In the first half, Framingham State opened an early 3-0 lead with scores from Kent, Masse and McLean, before Fitchburg State got on the board with a Bartlett goal at the 24:37 mark. The Rams increased their lead over the next two minutes, adding three more markers for a commanding 6-1 advantage.

Fitchburg State muscled back throughout the first half, closing the period with a 5-1 run to only trail by one at the break (7-6). Finamore sparked the charge at the 21:33 mark with her 38th goal of the season, while Bartlett added back-to-back scores and the Roberts/White duo added one goal apiece.

In the second half, the Rams again jumped out to an early advantage, taking a 10-7 margin within the first ten minutes of the period. Kent opened the Framingham State scoring just 3:26 into the frame and followed with another goal at the 20:52 mark, while Masse chipped in with score at 24:07.

Again the resilient Falcons fought back, bring the game to a one goal standoff with back-to-back goals from Roberts and junior Cassandra Benoit (N. Dartmouth, Mass./Dartmouth), but that's as close as the Falcons would come as Framingham State countered each Fitchburg State attack down the stretch. The Rams iced the contest over the final minute of play, securing possession until the closing seconds and adding a last minute marker from Ashley Holmes (E. Sandwich, Mass./Sandwich) for a two goal victory.

For the contest, Framingham State out shot Fitchburg State, 25-21 while holding an 18-10 advantage in groundballs, but the Falcons did control the draw with a 15-10 margin. Sophomore Dylana Drolette (Burlington, Vt./Burlington) stopped seven shots in net for Fitchburg State, while sophomore Rebecca Rixon (Stow, Mass./Nashoba Valley) collected the victory with four saves over 52 minutes of play.

Fitchburg State (6-9, 4-3 NEWLA) will be back in action on Friday as it visits Mass-Maritime Academy at 7 p.m. Framingham State (8-6, 5-2 NEWLA) will host Becker on Saturday at 12 p.m.