Falcons Drop MASCAC Clash with Vikings

Fitchburg, Mass. – The Fitchburg State women's lacrosse team fell to the Vikings of Salem State 17-16 in Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) action on Tuesday evening.

In a pre-game ceremony, the Green and Gold celebrated the senior class of Cali Laakso (Fitchburg, Mass.), Eva Kozikowski (Portsmouth, NH), Brooke Williams (South Dennis, Mass.) and Grace Wetherbee (Marblehead, Mass.).

The Basics
Score: Fitchburg State 16, Salem State 17
Records: Fitchburg State (5-8, 2-4 MASCAC) | Salem State (5-10, 2-4 MASCAC)

How It Happened

The Falcons flew out to a 5-0 lead with a pair of goals from Cali Laakso and Eva Kozikowski. Newcomer Jessica St. George (Dracut, Mass.) also scored in the run. The Vikings answered by scoring three of the next four goals to cut the deficit in half (6-3). Mackenzie Schmink (Danvers, Mass.) tallied a pair for the visitors forcing a timeout by Fitchburg State.

Sophomore Kendra Peretzman (Randolph, Mass.) notched her first of the season to up the Falcons' advantage (8-3). Both teams traded goals late in the second quarter as the hosts held a 10-7 lead at intermission.

Trailing 11-7 the Vikings reeled off four unanswered goals capped by back-to-back scores from Taylor Sujko (Revere, Mass.) to knot the game at 11-11. The Falcons closed out the half buckling down on defense and outscoring the Vikings 5-0. Kozikowski posted her 37^th and 38^th goals of the season sandwiched around a score from Delaney Ponder (East Bridgewater, Mass.). St. George added her second of the night and found Nicole Orlowski (Ellington, Conn.) with forty seconds left in the frame to lead the Green and Gold.

The Vikings sparked a comeback in the fourth quarter, holding the Falcons scoreless in the frame. A natural hat trick from Kaia Hollingsworth (Methuen, Mass.) pushed Salem State within one (16-15). Schmink evened the game with her fourth goal of the night and senior Jenna Wells (Revere, Mass.) potted the game-winner with 2:51 to play.

Inside the Numbers

• Kozikowski paced the Falcons with six goals, 3 ground balls, 4 caused turnovers, and a draw control
• St. George added three goals, two assists, three ground balls, and 2 draw controls
• Wells and Schmink led the Vikings with four goals each
• Netminder Alyson Cote (South Hadley, Mass.) had 9 saves in the setback
• Carson Reidy (Burlington, Mass.) posted 9 saves for the win

Up Next

The Falcons will travel to Worcester State on Saturday to face the Lancers.