Fitchburg State Knocks Down Rivier, 19-10

Burns collects 200th career point with six goals, six assist effort in non-conference win

NASHUA, N.H. (April 18, 2011) – Junior Amanda Burns (Weymouth, Mass./Weymouth) collected a game-high 12 points to lead the Fitchburg State women's lacrosse team to a 19-10 non-conference victory over Rivier College this evening.

With her 12 point effort, Burns became just the second Falcon to eclipse the 200 point plateau, making her Fitchburg State's all-time leading scoring with 201 career points. Burns surpassed the previous mark of 200 set by former Falcons Emily Swan, using 58 points this season on 40 goals and 18 assists.

Burns led all scorers in the contest, notching six goals and six assists, but Fitchburg State also received a solid effort from junior Kelly Finamore (Weymouth, Mass./Weymouth), who finished with seven goals, one assist and eight points. Sophomore Samantha Bonasera (Chelsea, Vt./Chelsea) contributed to the mix with three markers on the evening, while three other Falcons added tallies to wrap up the scoring.

Clinging to just a two goal lead after one half of play (10-8), Fitchburg State used a nine goal second half to break open the contest and post its program tying, tenth victory of the season. Burns sparked the Falcons second frame rally with back-to-back markers to open the period, before Finamore (3) and Bonasera (1) rifled off four consecutive scores for a 14-8 advantage.

Freshman Cassandra Benoit (N. Dartmouth, Mass./Dartmouth) continued the Falcons hot shooting, touching for a goal with 7:42 remaining in the contest before Rivier ended its second half scoring silence with a Rebecca Wickens (Tyngsboro, Mass./Tyngsboro) goal at 6:23. Sophomore Sammi Gorman (Malta, N.Y./Ballston Spa) padded the Falcons lead with her first collegiate goal, while the Raiders capped the scoring with a pair of goals late in regulation.

For the match, Fitchburg State held a 27-19 advantage in shots, 24-20 margin in groundballs and a 16-14 clip in draw controls. Junior Carissa Kennedy (Somerset, Mass./Bishop Stang) finished the contest with a team-high six draw controls, while Bonasera and junior Jill Shaner (Arlington, Mass./Arlington) combined for 11 groundballs.

In net, freshman Dylana Drolette (Burlington, Vt./Burlington) improved to 10-1 on the season, posting four saves in the complete game effort. Sophomore Caleigh Bertolaccini (Chelmsford, Mass./Chelmsford) stopped five shots for the Raiders.

Fitchburg State (10-1, 3-1 NEWLA) will be back in action on Wednesday as it hosts Castleton State at 7 p.m. Rivier (9-5, 3-4 GNAC) will host Mount Ida on Saturday at 1 p.m.