Fitchburg State and UMass Boston Draw, 0-0 (2 OT)

Kirouac stops nine in Falcons non-conference deadlock

BOSTON, Mass. (September 21, 2010) – The Fitchburg State women's soccer team battled to a 0-0 non-conference draw with the University of Massachusetts Boston this afternoon at Clark Athletic Field.

JILLIAN KIROUAC

With the draw, Fitchburg State stands a 3-2-1 on the season with a 1-0-0 record in the MASCAC, while UMass Boston has posted a 4-1-2 mark this year with a 1-0-0 bid in the Little East Conference.

Much of the contest was a goalkeeper's battle as freshman Jillian Kirouac (Leominster, Mass./Leominster), the reigning MASCAC Player of the Week, and rookie Laura Purcell (West Haven, Conn./West Haven) both kept the opposing team off the scoreboard. The shutout was the first of Purcell's collegiate career, while Kirouac and junior Melanie Berent (West Hartford, Conn./Conard) combined for the Falcons second silencer of the season.

Throughout the contest, both teams had ample scoring chances, but neither team was able to capitalize on their strikes. Fitchburg State threatened in the 21st minute of the match as senior midfielder Mary Lindberg (Auburn, Mass./Auburn) ripped a shot from 25 yards out that had Purcell beat, but the ball deflected off the crossbar to keep the game at a 0-0 standstill.

The Beacons also came within inches of the game-winning marker as freshman forward Taylor Andrews(Plymouth, Mass./Plymouth North) lofted a shot into the goal that also caught the crossbar. Andrews finessed a shot into the box from the corner of the 18 yard box, over the head of Kirouac, but the ball caught the pipe and ricocheted back into play.

In the overtime frames, Fitchburg State outshot UMass Boston, 5-3 but the Beacon posted a 20-15 edge throughout the contest. Kirouac finished the contest with nine saves before giving way to Berent due an injury to her finger. Berent logged the final 20 minutes of regulation and both overtime periods, making three saves in net for the visitors.

Fitchburg State will be back in action on Saturday as it travels to Bridgewater State at 11:00 a.m. UMass Boston will visit WPI on Thursday at 7 p.m.

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 Fitchburg State 0, UMass Boston 0 (2OT)