Suffolk pulls away from Fitchburg despite St. George's 100th career goal

Fitchburg, MA - The Falcons hosted Suffolk this evening in their first matchup of the season as Fitchburg continues non-conference action. 

The Basics

Final Score: Fitchburg 11, Suffolk 22

Records: Fitchburg (2-3), Suffolk (4-3)

How it Happened

The Falcons came out strong, setting the tone in the opening quarter. First-year attacker Anna Poulios (Tyngsborough, Mass.) helped spark the offense, while juniors Hannah Azzari (Haverhill, Mass.) and Samantha Azzari (Haverhill, Mass.) contributed to a fast start that gave Fitchburg State a 4–3 lead after one. The momentum carried into the second quarter, where the Falcons continued to trade goals with Suffolk and took a narrow 7–6 advantage into halftime.

Out of the break, however, Suffolk seized control. The Rams dominated possession behind a strong draw effort and outscored Fitchburg State 6–2 in the third quarter to take a 14–9 lead. The Falcons struggled to generate consistent offensive opportunities, managing just a handful of shots over the final two periods.

Despite the deficit, Fitchburg State continued to compete in the fourth quarter. Senior midfielder Jessica St. George (Dracut, Mass.) provided a bright spot, scoring her 100th career goal on a free-position attempt in the fourth quarter, marking a significant milestone.

Hannah Azzari (Haverhill, Mass.) and St. George each finished with two goals to lead the Falcons, while several players added single tallies in a balanced scoring effort. Defensively, Fitchburg State recorded 17 ground balls and forced turnovers throughout the contest, but was hindered by 21 turnovers and a 23–12 disadvantage in draw controls.

Junior goalkeeper Caitlin Persson (Worcester, Mass.) made 19 saves in net, facing heavy pressure from a high-volume Suffolk attack.

Fitchburg State will look to regroup and build off a strong first-half performance as they continue non-conference play.

By the Numbers

• 11 goals on 18 shots (17 SOG) — efficient offense despite limited opportunities

• 7 first-half goals vs. 4 second-half goals — strong start, slowed after halftime

• Jessica St. George: 2 goals, including her 100th career goal in the 4th quarter

• 21 turnovers committed and 12 draw controls won — key possession challenges

• 19 saves by Caitlin Persson while facing 47 shots

Up next

The Falcons will have the weekend off, and are back in action again Monday at Elliot Field hosting Lasell at 4pm. 

Stay connected

For the latest on Fitchburg State University Athletics, follow the Falcons via social media on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.