Falcons Soar Past Raiders In Non-Conference Action

Johnson nets hat trick for Green and Gold

Nashua, N.H.– The Fitchburg State women's lacrosse team collected a 14-9 triumph over the Raiders of Rivier University this evening in non-conference action from the Joanne Merrill Field.

The Basics

Score: Fitchburg State 14, Rivier 9

Records: Fitchburg State (2-1) | Rivier (0-1)

How It Happened

Fitchburg State grabbed a 2-0 lead in the first quarter as freshman Alexis Raymond (Tewksbury, Mass.) and junior Brooke Johnson (Billerica, Mass.) notched one goal each.

Rivier University cut the lead to 2-1 with freshman Sarah Lachance (Chelmsford, Mass.) netting her first collegiate marker, but the Falcons upped their advantage (5-1) when junior Eva Kozikowski (Portsmouth, N.H.), freshman Delaney Ponder (East Bridgewater, Mass.) and junior Cali Laakso (Fitchburg, Mass.) finding the back of the net.

The two teams traded goals with senior Julia Miele (South Hadley, Mass.) netting the goal for the Green and Gold, while newcomer Rachel Hinkley (Swedesboro, N.J.) notching the score for the Raiders to make the score 6-3 going into the break.

Following the intermission, Fitchburg State went on a 3-0 run to start the second half as Miele Johnson and freshman Nicole Orlowski (Ellington, Conn.) to push the lead to 9-3. Rivier would answered back when Hinkley netted her second marker of the contest.

Fitchburg State extended the lead to 13-6 as Miele collected pair of tallies, while Laakso and Raymond added one marker each. The Raiders trimmed the deficit (13-8) with goals from sophomore Ashley Wilder (Milford, N.H.) and two off the stick of Lachance.

The hosts continued to battle back when Lachance registered her fourth score on the evening, but the Green and Gold secured the victory with Johnson finding the back of the net, resulting in the 14-9 final.

Inside the Numbers

• 12th meeting between the two teams in lacrosse with the Falcons 10-2 all-time vs. the Raiders
• Johnson paced the Falcons with four points on three goals and one assists as well as four ground balls and one caused turnover
• Kozikowski added four points on one goal and three assists to go along with one ground ball
• For the Raiders, Lachance finished with a game-leading four goals, three ground balls and one caused turnover
• Hinkley chipped in with three goals and five ground balls
• Junior Francesca Reyes (Malden, Mass.) stopped 12 shots for the Falcons in the victory
• Sophomore Lindsey Kruger (New Bedford, Mass.) made 11 saves for the Raiders in the setback

Up Next

Falcons return to action on Saturday as they travel to Colby-Sawyer to take on the Chargers in non-conference action, starting at 1:00 PM. Raiders will host the Terriers of Thomas College next Thursday at 2:00 PM.