Falcons Top Buccaneers, 9-4

Alves nets four goals in key conference victory 

Buzzards Bay, Mass. – The Fitchburg State women's lacrosse team defeated the Buccaneers of Mass Maritime Academy, 9-4 in Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) action this evening at Clean Harbor Stadium.

The Basics

Score: Fitchburg State 9, Mass. Maritime 4

Records: Fitchburg State (8-8, 3-4 MASCAC) | Mass. Maritime (6-8, 1-5 MASCAC)

How It Happened

Mass. Maritime opened the scoring as senior Stephanie Hunt (Brookfield, Conn.) netted the first goal of the contest before Fitchburg State grabbed the lead when sophomore Sarah Napolitano (Peabody, Mass.) and junior Anna Gagnon-Burch (Putney, Vt.) netted back-to-back scores. The Buccaneers retied the contest (2-2) with freshman Casey Smith (Sagamore Beach, Mass.) connecting on a tally just before the half.

Following the break, Mass. Maritime took a 3-2 margin as freshman Anna Deely (Marstons Mills, Mass.) found the back of the net, but Fitchburg State answered back, going on a 4-1 run with freshman Madison Alves (Braintree, Mass.) collecting two scores, while senior Carrie Long (Foxboro, Mass.) and sophomore Tracy Long (Georgetown, Mass.) adding one goal each.

The Green and Gold would secure the win as Alves tacked on two more markers and sophomore Rebecca Fisher (Dracut, Mass.) capped the scoring with just under three minutes remaining the contest, resulting in the 9-4 final.

Inside the Numbers

Seventh meeting between the two teams on the lacrosse field with the Falcons currently 7-0 all-time when taking on the Buccaneers.

Fitchburg State has won the last seven contest against Mass. Maritime, including a 10-7 decision last season at Elliot Field. Former Falcon Kayla Panek paced the Green and Gold with a game-best seven points on four goals and three assists as well as three ground balls and one draw control.

Alves led the way for Fitchburg State with a game-best four goals and one caused turnover, while Gagnon-Burch and Napolitano added one goal and one helper each. C. Long was also solid for the Falcons, collecting one goal (her 100th of the her career), seven ground balls, five draw controls and five caused turnovers..

For the Buccaneers, Sullivan finished with two goals, four ground balls and two caused turnovers, while Deely chipped in with one marker, one helper, three ground balls, four draw controls and one caused turnover.

In goal, junior Marguerite Belcher (Quincy, Mass.) stopped two shots for the Falcons in the complete game effort, while senior Mikayla Correia (Dartmouth, Mass.) made 12 saves for the Buccaneers in 60 minutes of work.

Up Next

Falcons conclude their 2018 regular season this evening await its seeding in the 2018 MASCAC Women's Lacrosse post-season tournament. Buccaneers will travel to Framingham State on Sunday as it takes on the Rams for a contest starting at 12:00 PM.