Fitchburg State Knots Emmanuel, 1-1 (2 OT)

Kirouac finishes with 11 saves in Falcons non-conference draw

BOSTON, Mass. (October 20, 2011) – After 110 minutes of soccer, the Emmanuel College and Fitchburg State University women's soccer teams settled for a 1-1 draw Thursday evening at Clemente Field in Boston, Mass.

The Saints would get on the scoreboard first when junior forward Meghan Zerba (Cumberland, R.I.) found the back of the net for her fourth goal of the 2011 campaign. Sophomore defender Shawn Crifo (Newburyport, Mass.) lofted a cross into the Falcons box that Zerba was able to volley over sophomore goalkeeper Jillian Kirouac (Leominster, Mass./Leominster) to put Emmanuel on top, 1-0 with just under 15 minutes remaining in the half.

Fitchburg State would knot the game at 1-1 at the 65:40 mark following some nifty dribbling by senior forward Carissa Kennedy (Somerset, Mass./Bishop Stang). Following a Falcons goal-kick taken by Kirouac, Kennedy was able to settle the ball just on Emmanuel's defensive side of the field before turning and maneuvering her way through the Saints defensive line to allow a 1-on-1 break away. Kennedy pushed the ball past the Saints keeper with her 12th goal of the season to even the contest midway through the second half.

The Falcons had the best chance to take the game in regulation as Kennedy would again find the ball at her feet inside the Saints box with just over five minutes to play. The senior was able to fire off a shot that appeared to have junior goalkeeper Jessica D'Ottavio (Pawling, N.Y.) beat over her head to the back post but the ball ricocheted off the crossbar and back into play before being cleared.

Emmanuel would have the best look to win the game in the first overtime session as Zerba ripped a right-footed shot from just inside the 18-yard box on frame forcing Kirouac to fully extend and make a diving fingertip save to her right to preserve the 1-1 stalemate.

Kirouac ended the night with 11 saves for the Falcons while D'Ottavio made four stops for the Saints.

Fitchburg State (10-2-2, 4-1-0 MASCAC) will be back in action on Saturday as it travels to Framingham State at 10 a.m. Emmanuel (9-7-2, 5-6-1 GNAC) will visit Anna Maria College on Saturday at 11 a.m.