Falcons Stun Bears, Headed to the ‘Ship

Bridgewater, Mass. – For the first time in program history, the Fitchburg State Women's Soccer team is headed to the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) Championship after upsetting the #2 seed Bears of Bridgewater State 2-1 at Swenson Field on Friday night.

The Falcons will travel to top-seed Westfield State on Sunday afternoon to face the Owls for the MASCAC title. Kickoff is slated for 12:00 PM.

The Basics

Score: Fitchburg State 2, Bridgewater State 1
Records: Fitchburg State (10-6-3) | Bridgewater State (10-6-2)

How It Happened

The Falcons struck fifteen minutes into the first frame. Rookie Adrianna Westcott (Sayreville, NJ), streaking down the left wing, found an open Maddie Hippert (Leicester, Mass.) at the top of the box. Hippert sent a pass back to senior Patricia Pallotta (Sterling, Mass.), who knocked in her fifth of the season from 28-yards out, off the top cross bar, and into the back of the net.

Bridgewater State's best chance in the first half was from senior forward Michelle Belcher (Norton, Mass.), who rang one off the crossbar from 30 yards out in the final minute of the first half.

The Bears continued the pressure into the second half. In the 53rd minute, Belcher rang the back post on a corner attempt, and forward Olivia Robarge (Pepperell, Mass.) was stoned by Falcon netminder Allison Gough (Wolcott, Conn.) with a close-range shot off the rebound. Minutes later, Gough made a leaping stop on a shot by senior forward Erin Clancey (Middletown, R.I.).

In the 59^th minute, the Falcons would double the lead. Hippert capitalized on a corner as her long header found its way inside the right post. Junior midfielder Ashley Porter (Upton, Mass.) picked up the assist on Hippert's fifth goal of the season and eventual game-winner.

BSU graduate forward Madelyn Morin (East Longmeadow, Mass.) cut the deficit to 2-1 in the 77^th minute.

The Bears kept the pressure on in the waning minutes but could not pot the equalizer. Gough came up with a key stop on a corner kick by Belcher in the 85^th minute, and freshman midfielder Regina Pallotta (Sterling, Mass.) headed one off the line in the 89^th minute.

Inside the Numbers

• Senior goalkeeper Gough made nine saves between the pipes for the Falcons. Fitchburg also received a pair of team saves.
• Logan Levesque made one save in the setback for the Bears
• The Bears held the advantage in shots (24-5) and corners (8-2)
• The Falcons defeated the Bears for just the fourth time in team history. The last win was September 24, 2011, a 1-0 decision.

Up Next

The Falcons will travel to Westfield State on Sunday for the 2022 MASCAC Championship.