Fitchburg State Falls To WPI, 2-1

Landry collects first goal of the season to lead Falcons offense

WORCESTER, Mass. (September 12, 2009) - WPI junior Kristen Garza (Kingston, Mass./Kingston) established a new school career goal-scoring record this afternoon, lifting WPI to a 2-1 victory over Fitchburg State with one goal in the contest. 

Garza ignited the Engineer scoring a solo goal in the first half, while classmate Katie Partridge's (Worcester, Mass./South) marker in the 73rd minute that was the difference in the Engineers second victory of the season. Fitchburg State junior Ali Landry (Bellingham, Mass./Bellingham) added one marker for the Falcons, while senior Lauren Wundt (Southwick, Mass./Southwick-Tolland) chipped in with an assist. 

Midway through the first half, WPI opened the scoring as Partridge set up Garza on the historic goal. Patridge fed the junior forward at the top of the box and Garza buried a shot from 15 yards out for her fourth goal of the season and 29th of her career. With the tally, she surpassed Beth Gilbert atop the all-time WPI career goal list.

Fitchburg State evened the contest in the 29th minute when Landry was on the receiving end of a nifty feed from Wundt. The junior midfielder took possession and calmly tucked the ball past the WPI keeper Rebecca Newman (Howell, N.J./Howell) to knot the game at a 1-1 draw.

In the second half, the score remained even until the 73^rd minute as Partridge notched the game-winner on a direct kick from about 25 yards out.  Her shot from the near wing found a home in the far upper corner of the net for her third career tally. 

The game was tightly contested throughout with shots at a premium.  WPI took six of the game's nine shots while the Falcons held a decisive 9-2 advantage in corner kicks attempted. Sophomore Melanie Berent (West Hartford, Conn./Conard) made three saves while playing the first 77 minutes for the Falcons, while Newman made two stops for the Engineers.

Fitchburg State (2-2, 0-0 MASCAC) will be back in action on Wednesday as it travels to Eastern Connecticut State University at 7 p.m. WPI (2-3, 0-0 NEWMAC) will open a six game road trip Tuesday as it travels to Worcester State at 7 p.m.

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WPI 2, Fitchburg State 1

Scoring:
First Half: WPI: Kristen Garza (Katie Patridge), 21:15; FIT: Ali Landry (Lauren Wundt), 28:39;
Second Half: WPI: Patridge, 72:04
Goaltending: FIT: Melanie Berent (77:00), three saves; Kyla Batchelder (13:00), zero saves; WPI: Rebecca Newman (90:00), two saves
Shots: FIT: 3; WPI: 6