New England College Outlasts Fitchburg State, 9-6

Apple paces Falcons with two goals in non-conference match up

HENNIKER, N.H. (April 8, 2013) – The Fitchburg State women's lacrosse team traveled to New England College this afternoon and dropped a non-conference tilt with the Pilgrims, 9-6 in Henniker, N.H. 

The Pilgrims broke open a 4-4 tie at the half with a 5-2 surge to improve to 4-7 on the season. Fitchburg State falls to 2-6 overall. 

Fitchburg State opened the scoring just two minutes into the game as Jessica Bartlett (Marlborough, Mass.) netted her 16th goal of the season.  NEC responded at the 21 minute mark  with two goals, including an unassisted goal by Elizabeth Bois (Westbrook, Maine) and another score by Meredith Merce (Ocean, N.J.). 

The two teams then traded goals throughout the remainder of the half as Falcon Markie Apple (Pittsfield, Mass.) collected the final goal of the half at the 3:46 mark for a 4-4 draw at the break. 

In the second half, the Pilgrims came out on the offensive end, scoring the first three goals of the second half to build their largest lead of the game, 7-4.  The Falcons got a goal back at the 17 minute mark as Erin Murphy (Warwick, R.I.) converted a free-position, but a two goal deficit is as close as the Falcons would get as the two teams would exchange goals down the stretch. 

NEC's Sarah Merrill, Meredith Merce and Elizabeth Bois each finished with two goals for the Pilgrims, while Fitchburg State was led by Apple, who netted two goals for the Falcons. 

Picking up the win in net for NEC was Rebecca Harvey (Natick, Mass.) who finished with eight saves.  In goal for Fitchburg was Dylana Drolette (Burlington, Vt.) who recorded an impressive ten saves.

Fitchburg State (2-6, 0-2 MASCAC) returns to action on Thursday as it hosts UMass Dartmouth at 7 p.m.