Falcons Soar Past Blazers, 16-3

C. Long sets Falcons career groundballs mark with 229 in non-conference victory

Chicopee, Mass. – The Fitchburg State University women's lacrosse scored eight goals in each half, en-route to a 16-3 victory over the Blazers of Elms College in non-conference action this evening at Leary Field.

The Basics

Score: Fitchburg State 16, Elms 3

Records: Fitchburg State (5-0) | Elms (0-5)

How It Happened

Fitchburg State took a 4-0 lead to open the contest on markers from sophomores Rebecca Fisher (Dracut, Mass.), Tracy Long (Georgetown, Mass.) and Sarah Napolitano (Peabody, Mass.) as well as senior Carrie Long (Foxboro, Mass.) before Elms answered with a goal by sophomore Haley Richard (Monson, Mass.) to make the score 4-1.

The Falcons extend their margin (8-1) as C. Long, Fisher, and juniors Anna Gagnon-Burch (Putney, Vt.) and Sarah Mallahan (Dracut, Mass.) found the back of the net, but the Blazers capped the first half scoring when junior Vanessa Vurno (Salem, Conn.) netted her first score of the contest to cut the deficit to 8-2 going into the break.

Following the intermission, the Green and Gold upped its lead (16-2) with T. Long leading the second half charge with four goals, while senor Jaimee Lutz (Foxboro, Mass.) and newcomer Madison Alves (Braintree, Mass.) added one score each before senior Jackie Soucia (Belchertown, Mass.) concluded the scoring for Elms with her first goal of the game, resulting in the 16-3 final.

Inside the Numbers,

Eighth meeting between the two schools on the lacrosse field with the Falcons currently 8-0 all-time when taking on the Blazers.

Fitchburg State has won the last eight contests against Elms, including an 18-2 decision in the last matchup (3/26/15) at Elliot Field.

With the win, Fitchburg State starts the season 5-0 for first time program history.

T. Long led the way for the Falcons with a game-best five points on five goals as well as two ground balls and two draw controls, while C. Long added four markers, three groundballs, eight draw controls and four caused turnovers.

With her three ground balls and four caused turnovers in the contest, C. Long now ranks first all-time in Fitchburg State history with 229 career ground balls and moves into ninth place all-time on the NCAA DIII list in caused turnovers with 185 career caused turnovers.

For the Blazers, Soucia netted one goal, two ground balls, one draw control and one caused turnover, while Richard chipped in with one score, one ground ball and a pair of draw controls.

In net, junior Marguerite Belcher (Quincy, Mass.) posted five saves in the complete game effort for Fitchburg State.

Freshman Emily Huber (Jefferson, Maine) stopped nine shots for Elms in 60 minutes of work in the setback.

Up Next

Falcons will host the Pride of Regis College on Thursday for a non-conference bout, starting at 4:00 PM. Blazers will host the Bears of Coast Guard Academy on Tuesday for a non-conference tilt at 5:00 PM.