Falcons Tie Season Win Record in 17-7 Triumph over Southern Vt.

BENNINGTON, Vt. — Fitchburg State tied their program record with 12 wins in a season as the Falcons defeated Southern Vermont College, 17-7, in non-conference women's lacrosse action at Everett Field on Thursday afternoon. 

A strong first half by the Falcons (12-2) put the visitors in front by a 15-2 margin, securing a big enough lead that FSU would carry to the victory. SVC (3-5) outscored Fitchburg State 5-2 in the second half as five Mountaineers tallied goals on the day.

Southern Vermont sophomore Emily Lesure scored twice while tying the game-high of five draw controls while freshman Taylor Brewer added another two goals to go with her two draw controls and one ground ball. Sophomore Melodie Orrell scored her 30th goal of the year in the effort while scooping up three ground balls and grabbing two draw controls. Freshman Natalie Canterbury and sophomore Jackie Scanlon each scored their first collegiate goals on the day.

Nine Falcons registered at least one goal in the win, being led by three from junior Brianna Dunn who also added four assists and two ground balls to her line. Sophomore Kayla Panek notched two goals and a team-high three ground balls while freshman Carrie Long tied Lesure's five draw controls to go with a pair of scores. Sophomore Ali Laferriere had two goals, two assists and two draw controls on the day. Senior captain Lindsey White recorded two goals, an assist and two ground balls in the win, while also moving into second place in program history for career goals.

FSU freshman keeper Nicole Patterson picked up her first collegiate victory (1-0), making six saves between the pipes. Mountaineer freshman Kelsey Carrera stopped 12 shots in the defeat (3-5).

Fitchburg State picked up 12 draw controls to SVC's nine while taking a 19-10 advantage in ground balls.

SVC returns to New England Collegiate Conference action on Saturday as the Mountaineers visit Elms College for a 3 p.m. first draw. Fitchburg State also plays a league match on Saturday for its next game, traveling to Worcester State University for a 1 p.m. Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference contest.

Freshman Corinne DeSimone put the Falcons on top quickly after the opening whistle, scoring her 29th goal of the season just 39 seconds into the action. Dunn added a goal on a free position shot shortly after, and White then took a pass from Laferriere and buried it into the back of the net to put FSU up 3-0 at the 26:32 mark of the first half. Laferriere then scored her 34th goal of the year on a free position shot before Southern Vermont broke through to the scoreboard when Brewer notched her first of the day with 22:54 to go.

Fitchburg kept up its success in the offensive third of the field, scoring four unanswered goals to go on top 8-1 with help from Dunn's second of the contest. A free position shot then saw Scanlon slot her first goal of the year, but FSU closed out the half on a 7-0 run through the last 15 minutes of action to take a comfortable lead to the break.

A free position shot awarded to SVC 2:32 into the second period allowed Canterbury to spot up and fire home her first collegiate tally, and Lesure soon-after put one home to make it 15-4. Fitchburg State scored the next pair to pad its cushion before Orrell drove strongly to the net, spun and released a shot for her team-leading 30th goal of the season. Lesure added her 13th of the year at the 7:48 mark before Brewer put home the 11th goal of her freshman campaign to cut it to the eventual 17-7 final. Neither team scored in the last 3:50 of action as the Falcons finished off their fifth straight win.

COURTESY OF SVC SID OFFICE