Fitchburg State Edges Colby-Sawyer, 11-10

Apple lifts Falcons to eighth victory of the season with game-winning marker

NEW LONDON, N.H. (April 23, 2014) – Senior Markie Apple (Pittsfield, Mass.) scored the game-winning goal with 1:48 left to lift the Fitchburg State Falcons to an 11-10 road win at Colby-Sawyer College on Wednesday afternoon.

The Falcons improve to 8-7 on the season, while Colby-Sawyer drops to 3-12.

Apple scored three times along with freshman Andrea Comeau (Watertown, Mass.) and freshman Ali Laferriere (Tyngsboro, Mass.). Laferriere added a game best seven draw controls. Freshman Kayla Panek (Belchertown, Mass.) and sophomore Brianna Dunn (Monson, Mass.) contributed a goal apiece.

Colby-Sawyer was led by senior Adrienne Bender's (Wakefield, R.I.) three goals. Freshman Allyson Redden (Dover, N.H.) added a pair. Sophomore Sara Berry (Bowdoinham, Maine) had one goal, two assists and a team best four draw controls.

Fitchburg went in front 1:36 into the contest on Apple's first tally of the game. Bender knotted the game at 1-1 less than a minute later, but the Falcons went on a 4-0 run, which included three consecutive goals from Laferriere in that stretch.

Colby-Sawyer was able to cut the deficit in half over the next three minutes with goals from Redden and junior Alyssia Janak (Bourne, Mass.).Each team would add two more goals before the end of the half. Fitchburg led 7-5 at the break.

The second half began with alternating goals as the visitors held on to a two goal advantage at the 18:05 mark. Over the next 11 minutes, Colby-Sawyer scored three times to take its first lead of the game at 10-9 with 7:19 left to play.

Andrea Comeau tied the game ten seconds later with her 24th goal of the season.

The action went up and down the field for the next several minutes as each team tried to take a lead, but was denied by the opposing goaltender.

After a Colby-Sawyer turnover, Apple picked up the ground ball in the midfield and went straight for the Chargers goal where she deposited the game-winner in the top right corner of the net.

Both goalies played well and kept their respective team in the game. Fitchburg sophomore goalie Elizabeth Darrigo (Billerica, Mass.) made 11 saves in the win, while freshman Kellie Lander (Ossipee, N.H.)  stopped ten shots for Colby-Sawyer.