Women's Lacrosse Holds Off Raiders In Non-Conference Action

St. George nets game winner for Green and Gold

Fitchburg, MA. – The Fitchburg State Women's Lacrosse team held on for a 14-13 triumph over the Raiders of Rivier University this afternoon in non-conference from Elliot Field.

The Basics

Score: Fitchburg State 14, Rivier 13

Records: Fitchburg State (5-2, 0-0 MASCAC) | Rivier (3-4, 0-3 GNAC)

How It Happened

In the opening quarter, Fitchburg State and Rivier traded goals to open the contest as juniors Delaney Ponder (E. Bridgewater, MA), Abaigeal Doheny (Lunenburg, MA) and Nicole Orlowski (Ellington, CT) as well as sophomore Jessica St. George (Dracut, MA) scored for the Falcons, while junior Sarah Lachance (Chelmsford, MA) paced Rivier with three of the Raider five goals to give the visitors a 5-4 margin.

Rivier pushed the lead to 6-5 early in the second quarter with LaChance finding the back of the net for her four tally on the afternoon, but the Falcons ratted off five unanswered marker with Orlowski netting a pair for the Green and Gold, while Ponder, sophomore Autumn Tibbetts (Lunenburg, MA) and freshman Kiley McFadden (Tewksbury, MA) collecting one score each for the 9-6 advantage, going into the break.

Following the intermission, the Raiders knotted the score at 9-9 with Lachance, senior Ashley Wilder (Milford, NH) and newcomer Sofia Cebrero (Hudson, NH) finding the back of the net. The Green and Gold regained the lead (11-9) as Ponder and freshman Hannah Azzari (Haverhill, MA) connected on tallies before Rivier answered on Lachance fifth goal of the day to trim the lead to 11-10.

In the final quarter of play, Fitchburg State pushed the lead to 13-11 when Orlowski and newcomer Noelle Kennedy (Walpole, MA) notched markers. The Raiders would tie the contest at 13-13 on back-to-back scores from Lachance, but the Falcons secured the victory when St. George settled a feed from Kennedy and buried a shot into the back of the net with just over a minute remaining in regulation, resulting in the 14-13 final.

Inside the Numbers

• This afternoon's contest marked the 13th meeting between Fitchburg State and Rivier University in the sport of women's lacrosse with the Falcons 11-2 when taking on the Raiders
• Orlowski paced the Falcons with a team-best four goals, one groundball, two draw controls and one caused turnover
• St. George added three points on two goals, one assist, four groundballs and 11 draw controls
• Freshman Caitlin Persson (Worcester, MA) made ten saves for Fitchburg State in the victory
• For the Raiders, Lachance finished with a game-leading 11 points on eight goals and three assists as well as two groundballs
• Cebrero added three goals and a groundball
• Senior Lindsey Kruger (New Bedford, MA) stopped ten shots for Rivier in the setback

The Falcons return to action tomorrow as they host the Mariners of Maine Maritime Academy for a non-conference tilt, starting at 6:00PM.

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