Falcons Clipped By Vikings In MASCAC Action

Johnson collects game-best five points for Green and Gold 

Salem, Mass. - The Fitchburg State women's lacrosse team suffered a tough 14-11 setback to the Vikings of Salem State University this evening in Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) action from Alumni Field.

The Basics

Score: Fitchburg State 11, Salem State 14

Records: Fitchburg State (5-9, 0-4 MASCAC) | Salem State (1-3, 5-7 MASCAC)

How It Happened

Fitchburg State opened the contest with a 2-0 lead on goals from juniors Eva Kozikowski (Portsmouth, N.H.) and Brooke Johnson (Billerica, Mass.) before Salem State cut the lead to 3-1 as senior Suzanne Stefanik (Dalton, Mass.) struck for her tenth tally on the year.

The Green and Gold upped its advantage (3-1) with Johnson netting her second tally on the evening, but the Vikings struck for four straight markers as freshman Madelyn Plourde (Bennington, N.H.) notched a pair of goals, while junior Mackenzie Schmink (Danvers, Mass.) and sophomore Megan Parthum (Marblehead, Mass.) added one each to make the score 5-3.

The Falcons closed the half with three markers as Johnson notched back-to-back tallies before senior Julia Miele (South Hadley, Mass.) tacked on one goal for the 6-5 margin going into the break.

Following the intermission, Salem State regained the lead (9-6) when Schmink, Plourde, Parthum and junior Taylor Sujko (Revere, Mass.) found the back of the net, but Fitchburg State cut the deficit to 11-9 with scores from junior Cali Laakso (Fitchburg, Mass.), freshman Delaney Ponder (East Bridgewater, Mass.) and Kozikowski.

The Vikings extended the lead to 14-9 on a goal from senior Kayla McKim (Wakefield, Mass.) before the Green and Gold responded with scores by freshman Kendra Peretzman (Randolph, Mass.) and Laakso, but that's as close as the visitors would get as Salem State held on for the 14-11 victory.

Inside the Numbers

• 14th meeting between the two teams on the lacrosse field with the Falcons 12-2 all-time when taking on the Vikings
• Johnson led the way for the Falcons with a game-best five points on four goals and one helper as well as one ground ball, two draw controls and two caused turnovers
• Laakso chipped in with four points on two goals and two assists in addition to three ground balls and one caused turnover
• For the Vikings, Plourde finished with a game-best five goals, two ground balls and two caused turnovers
• Freshman Alyson Cote (South Hadley, Mass.) made six saves for Fitchburg State
• Sophomore Kaia Hollingsworth (Methuen, Mass.) stopped eight shots for Salem State

Up Next

Falcons return to action on Saturday as they host the Lancers of Worcester State for a MASCAC contest, starting at 6:00 PM.