Falcons Rebound Over Trailblazers In Conference Tilt

Dunmore, Farley, Preston and O'Brien net first collegiate tallies for Green and Godl 

North Adams, Mass. - The Fitchburg State women's lacrosse team defeated the Trailblazers of MCLA, 18-5 this evening in Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) action from Shewcraft Field.

The Basics

Score: Fitchburg State 18, MCLA 5

Records: Fitchburg State (5-6, 2-2 MASCAC) | MCLA (2-6, 0-4 MASCAC)

How It Happened

Fitchburg State raced out to an early 4-0 advantage on goals from senior Cali Laakso (Fitchburg, Mass.), classmate Eva Kozikowski (Portsmouth, N.H.) and sophomores Nicole Orlowski (Ellington, Conn.) and Delaney Ponder (East Bridgewater, Mass.) before MCLA responded with a tally by senior Skylen Haynes (Hoosick Falls, N.Y.) to trim the lead to 4-1.

In the second period of play, the Trailblazers cut the deficit to 4-2 with sophomore Julia Graham (Chittenango, N.Y.) netting her team leading 22nd tally on the season, but the Falcon pushed the lead to 8-3 with freshman Jessica St. George (Dracut, Mass.), Orlowski, Kozkiowski and Ponder registering markers.

Following the intermission, Fitchburg State upped the lead to 10-3 when Orlowski and Ponder finding the back of the net, but MCLA answered with a goal by Grahman (10-4). The Green and Gold responded though with freshman Victoria Farley (Lowell, Mass.) netting her first two collegiate scores, while Laakso and Kozikowski added tallies for the 14-4 advantage.

In the final period of play, Graham notched her game-leading fourth marker of the contest to pull the host within 14-5 before St. George and newcomer Morgan Preston (Nashua, N.H.) connected on back-to-back markers for the Falcons to make the score 16-5.

The Green and Gold secured the victory minutes later with freshman Riley O'Brien (Lunenburg, Mass.) and sophomore Celia Dunmore (Boston, Mass.) registering their first collegiate goals, resulting in the 18-5 final.

Inside the Numbers

• Seventh meeting between the Falcons and the Trailblazers with Fitchburg State 7-0 all-time when taking on MCLA
• Kozikowski paced the Falcons with seven points on three goals and four assists as well as seven ground balls and one caused turnover
• Orlowski chipped in with three scores, four helpers, one ground ball, one draw control and one caused turnover
• For the Trailblazers, Graham finished with a game best four goals, two ground balls, two draw controls and a caused turnover
• Sophomore Alyson Cote (South Hadley, Mass.) five saves for Fitchburg State
• Senior Lori Lester (Methuen, Mass.) stopped 15 shots for MCLA\
• Sophomores Celia Dunmore and Riley O'Brien notched their first collegiate tallies for the Falcons
• Freshmen Morgan Preston and Victoria Farley  added their first collegiate markers of the Green and Gold

Up Next

Falcons return to action on Saturday as they host the Owls of Westfield State for a MASCAC matchup, starting at 12:00PM.