#2 Fitchburg State vs #3 Bridgewater State
| Final | 1 | 2 | T | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Bridgewater St. (11-8, 5-2 MASCAC) | 9 | 10 | 19 |
|
Fitchburg St. (14-4, 5-2 MASCAC) | 7 | 4 | 11 |
FITCHBURG, Mass. - #2 Fitchburg State University (14-3, 5-2 MASCAC) will host #3 Bridgewater State (10-8, 5-2 MASCAC) in the semifinals of the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) Women's Lacrosse Tournament at Elliot Field on Thursday, April 30 at 7:00pm.
How they got here:
Fitchburg State enters the contest after winning a program record 14 regular season contests, while finishing in second place in the MASCAC with a 5-2 record. The Falcons picked up big conference victories against Bridgewater State, 12-11 on Saturday, March 28 and Framingham State, 14-11 on Tuesday, April 14.
The Falcons ended the year on a two-game winning streaking with conference wins over MCLA and Mass. Maritime to end the regular season schedule.
The three-time MASCAC Champion Bridgewater State took an uncharacteristic route to the playoffs, as the Bears were not the top seed for the first time in program history. BSU, who picked up the third seed, defeated #6 Salem State on Tuesday, April 28 by a score of 22-8.
BSU rides a four game win streak into the contest, with their regular season finale being a come from behind victory over #4 Worcester State, 15-14 as the Bears overcame a nine goal deficit. The victory propelled Fitchburg State to the second seed and the first round bye.
The last time the two met:
The Falcons defeated Bridgewater State 12-11 on Saturday, March 28, which snapped the Bears 57-game conference win streak that dated back to the inception of women's lacrosse as a sport in the MASCAC.
Historically speaking:
Bridgewater State holds an 11-1 overall record against the Falcons dating back to 2008, including four conference semifinal victories.
Dating back to the teams being a part of the New England Women's Lacrosse Association (NEWLA), the Bears defeated the Green & Gold in the 2010 semifinal contest, 16-11, and dating back to 2012 have eliminated Fitchburg State the past three years in the final four round. (2013 & 2014 MASCAC Tournament)
Coaches corner:
Eighth year head coach Rick Terrio has led the Falcons to their sixth consecutive playoff appearance, and has been at the helm since the programs beginning stages of a club team in 2007.
Gina Riitano is in her first year as head coach of Bridgewater State after previously serving as assistant coach at NCAA DI Central Connecticut State University. Riitano played under US Lacrosse Hall of Fame coach, Maureen Scott Dupchak at NCAA DI American University, then transferred to Division I powerhouse Syracuse University during the 2003-04 campaign.
Who to watch:
Fitchburg State has had a plethora of offensive support during the regular season, with eight players with at least 20 points. Sophomore MASCAC Second Team selections Ali Laferriere (41 G, 16 A) and Andrea Comeau (42 G, 8 A) lead the pack with 57 and 50 points respectively, while fellow second team honorees Elizabeth Darrigo and Lia Crutchfield anchor the defensive side of the field. Darrigo was stellar between the pipes for the Green & Gold as the junior led the conference with a 9.14 goals against average, 130 goals against, and a 50.9 save percentage.
Bridgewater State is led by conference leading point-goer Riley Chachelin, who had 81 points on 23 goals and 58 assists on the year. Not to be out-done, Lauren Geary led the MASCAC in goals with 65 to go along with 10 assists for 75 points on the season.