Fitchburg State Sneaks Past UMass Boston, 1-0 (OT)

Kennedy nets game-winner just 1:16 into overtime period

FITCHBURG, Mass. (September 20, 2011) – Senior Carissa Kennedy (Somerset, Mass./Bishop Stang) converted the game's lone goal in just the second minute of the overtime period to lift the Fitchburg State women's soccer team to a 1-0 victory over UMass Boston this evening.

The win extends the Fitchburg State unbeaten streak to six with its record standing at 6-1 (1-0 MASCAC) this year. UMass Boston falls to 3-3 on the season with the loss (0-1 LEC).

The first half witnessed a dead even match up with both teams posting five shots in the frame. UMass Boston held a 4-0 advantage in corners, but Fitchburg State registered two attempts on net to threatened down the stretch. The Falcons witnessed their best attempts in the final minutes of the period as freshman Kimberly Carroll (Tewksbury, Mass./Tewksbury) saw her left-footed attempt stopped by Beacon keeper, Dani Perkins (Murrieta, Calif./Murrieta Valley), and minutes later, Katrina Marrone's (Springfield, Mass./Springfield Central) break away attempt sailed wide right.

In the second half, Fitchburg State continued its offensive momentum as sophomore Rachel Jamieson (Foxboro, Mass./Foxboro) rifled a shot from ten yards out, but a diving save from Perkins kept the game a 0-0 standstill. UMass Boston also threatened midway through the second half with a pair of shots on target from Krista Ledin (Bridgewater, Mass./West Bridgewater) and Julienne McCuish (Mashpee, Mass./Mashpee), but stellar saves from sophomore Jillian Kirouac (Leominster, Mass./Leominster) kept the Beacons off the board. Ledin also saw a solid attempt in the final two minutes of regulation but another diving save from Kirouac forced extra time.

Dating back to their contest on September 22, 2009, Fitchburg State and UMass Boston had not scored a goal against each other for over 228 minutes. Kennedy finally put an end to that streak, posting her sixth goal of the season just 1:16 into the overtime period.

For the contest, UMass Boston held a slim 15-10 advantage, while also gathering a 6-1 margin in corners. Kirouac was strong in net for the Falcons, totaling ten saves in the complete game effort, while Perkins finished with four saves for the visitors.

Fitchburg State (6-1, 1-0 MASCAC) will be back in action on Saturday as it hosts Bridgewater State University at 10 a.m. UMass Boston (3-3, 0-1 LEC) will host WPI on Thursday at 3:30 p.m.