Fitchburg State Shuts Down Salem State, 1-0

Kirouac breaks Fitchburg State's all-time career saves mark of 371 in Falcons key MASCAC victory

FITCHBURG, Mass. (October 26, 2013) – Senior forward Rachel Jamieson (Foxboro, Mass.) posted the game-winning tally in the 55th minute of action to lift the Fitchburg State women's soccer team to a 1-0 victory over Salem State in Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) action this afternoon at Elliot Field.

Following a scoreless first half, Fitchburg State grabbed the lead at the 54:27 mark as Jamieson notched her fifth marker of the season. The senior forward collected a rebound from junior Kayla Bridges (Foxboro, Mass.) and deposited the ball inside the near post for the 1-0 margin.

Following the Falcons goal, Salem State looked to knot the score in the 56th minute of action when sophomore Leah Wood (Loveland, Ohio) blasted shot in front of the goal but Fitchburg State keeper Jillian Kirouac (Leominster, Mass.) made an outstanding diving save to her right to preserve the 1-0 victory.

In the first stanza, Salem State nearly opened the scoring in the 43rd minute of play as senior Kaitlyn Quigley (Santa Maria Calif.) collected a corner kick off the foot of classmate Veronica Poirier (Newburyport, Mass.) and lofted a shot that went just high. Fitchburg State's best scoring chance came with just under twenty seconds left in the frame when Jamieson settled a loose ball at the top of the box and blasted a shot towards goal that sailed just right of the post.

Throughout the contest, Salem State out shot Fitchburg State 19-10, while the Falcons held a slim 2-1 margin in corner kicks. Between the pipes, Kirouac stopped eight shots en-route to the complete game shutout victory for Fitchburg State, while sophomore Rachel Ledbetter (Dracut, Mass.) totaled five saves in 90 minutes of action for the Vikings.

With the eight saves in this afternoon's contest, Kirouac broke Fitchburg State's all-time career saves record of 371 held by former Falcon standout goalkeeper Erin Kenney.

Fitchburg State (6-11-0, 2-4-0 MASCAC) returns to action next Saturday as it visits the Lancers of Worcester State University at 11 a.m. Salem State (5-7-2, 2-3-1 MASCAC) will travel to Johnson and Wales University on Tuesday for a contest starting at 7 p.m.