Falcons Drop 19-10 Decision To Pilgrims

Hess nets first collegiate tally in non-conference setback 

Henniker, N.H. – The Fitchburg State University lacrosse team dropped a 19-10 decision to the Pilgrims of New England College in non-conference action this evening from the Don Melander Field.

The Basics

Score: Fitchburg State 10, New England Coll 19

Records: Fitchburg State (1-5) | NEC (3-1)

How It Happened

New England College grabbed a 7-0 advantage, led by a trio of scores from senior Tara Bainbridge (South Hadley, Mass.), while classmate Alana Scott (Huntington, Vt.), freshman Ally Freeman (Brick, N.J.), junior Ashley McNamara (Danbury, Conn.) and senior Kaitlyn Berry (Canterbury, N.H.) added one score each.

Fitchburg State would cut the deficit to 9-3 going into the break as senior Jessica Hall (Dracut, Mass.) junior Molly Cote (Lowell, Mass.) and Sarah Napolitano (Peabody, Mass.) found the back of the net.

Following the intermission, Fitchburg State opened the scoring when junior Nicole Kopacz (Tewksbury, Mass.) connecting on her first tally of the season before the Pilgrims responded as Scott and Bainbridge netted back-to-back goals to make the score 11-4.

The Green and Gold continued to chip away at the deficit as freshman Julia Miele (South Hadley, Mass.) netted two consecutive tallies, while newcomer Riley Hess (Westminster, Mass.) notched her first collegiate tally to cut the lead to 11-7.

Trailing 12-7, Fitchburg State cut into the deficit when Miele potted her third marker of the contest, but New England College secured the victory as Bainbridge netted her sixth scored of the game, resulting in the 19-10 final.

Inside the Numbers,

• Fourth meeting  between the two teams in women's lacrosse with the Falcons 2-2 vs the Pilgrims
• Miele led the way for the Falcons with three goals and two assists as well as one groundball and three draw controls
• Kopacz added one goal, four groundballs, five draw controls and two caused turnovers for Fitchburg State
• Bainbridge finished with ten goals, one assist, ten groundballs, two draw controls and five caused turnovers for the Pilgrims
• Marguerite Belcher (Quincy, Mass.) turned aside 16 shots for Fitchburg State
• McKenzie Gallasso (South Windsor, Conn.) made ten saves for New England College

Up Next

Falcons will host the Corsairs of UMass Dartmouth on Wednesday for a non-conference tilt, starting at 6:00 PM. Pilgrims will host the Anchorwomen of Rhode Island College on the same day for a non-conference bout at 7:00 PM.