Fitchburg State Fights Past Salem State, 3-1

Jacobs knocks home two goals in Falcons second LEC victory

FITCHBURG, Mass. (September 25, 2010) – Senior Megan Jacobs (Stoughton, Mass./Stoughton) scored two goals to lead the Fitchburg State field hockey team to a 3-1 victory over the Salem State in a Little East Conference (LEC) match this afternoon.

MEGAN JACOBS

Jacobs, who leads Fitchburg State with six goals this season, knocked in two second half goals to lead the Falcons to a come from behind victory, while freshman Rebecca Bush (Littleton, Mass./Littleton) also added a second half marker.

Junior Kaitlyn Aronian (Chelmsford, Mass./Chelmsford) gave Salem State a 1-0 lead right before halftime when she jumped a clear out pass and scored with just seven seconds remaining. Aronian was able to score her second goal of the year when the Falcons failed to clear the ball in front of their net as time ran down. The score shifted the momentum back to the home team after Fitchburg State controlled the game in the Vikings' end for most of the first half.

However, Salem State could not build off their first half momentum as Fitchburg State scored three times in the second half to post their second league victory of the year. Jacobs and Bush put the Falcons back on top with goals at 44:28 and 58:42 and clinched the game with Jacobs' second score at 61:17. Fitchburg State once again controlled the tempo in the second half, out-shooting the Vikings, 12-3 for a 26-5 shots on goal advantage. Jacobs and sophomore Jamie Kelley (Pepperell, Mass./North Middlesex) led the attack combining for 17 shot attempts.

Salem State goaltender Jess McKenna (Rowley, Mass./Rowley) was exceptional in goal for Salem State in the first 35 minutes. Her first half effort kept the game scoreless as Fitchburg State dominated play, taking 14 shots to just two for the Vikings before halftime. McKenna ended the game with 18 saves, while sophomore Abbie Brown (Westwood, Mass./Westwood) earned the win having to make just one save.

Fitchburg State (4-2, 2-1 LEC) will be in action again on Wednesday as it hosts UMass Dartmouth at 7 p.m. Salem State (2-4, 0-3 LEC) will be in action on Tuesday afternoon as it travels to Bridgewater State at 4 p.m.

CLICK HERE FOR BOX SCORE & PLAY-BY-PLAY

Fitchburg State 3, Salem State 1

Scoring:
1st Half: SSU: Kaitlyn Aronian, 34:53;   
2nd Half: FIT: Megan Jacobs, 44:28; FIT: Rebecca Bush, 58:42; FIT: Jacobs, 61:17
Goalkeeping: FIT: Abbie Brown (70:00), one save; SSU: Jess McKenna (70:00), 18 saves;
Shots: FIT: 26; SSU: 5