Box Score
FITCHBURG - The Westfield State women's lacrosse team opened league play with a big 18-12 victory over Fitchburg on Saturday evening, April 3.
The Owls, who last played March 15, boosted their overall record to 4-1. Fitchburg is 5-3 and 1-1 in the New England Women's Lacrosse Alliance (NEWLA).
Westfield State received a valiant effort from its top offensive duo as junior Laura Chiricosta (Lexington, Mass./Lexington) and Carly Keeley (Feeding Hills, Mass./Agawam) combined for 15 points, including eight Owl goals. Chiricosta had a sensational night on the offensive end, totaling a game-best nine points with two goals and seven assists, while Kelley had team highs of six goals and four ground balls. Junior Rachel Dionne (Feeding Hills, Mass./Agawam) added five points to the mix with four goals and one dish; she also posted a team high five draw controls. Becca Kelley (Westfield, Mass./Westfield) topped the Owls elite scorers with three scores and two helpers.
Sophomore Amanda Burns (Weymouth, Mass./Weymouth) continued her hot-shooting for Fitchburg State, netting five goals and one assist for a team-best six points, while freshman Jamie Kelley (Pepperell, Mass./North Middlesex) added a trio of scores. Seniors Emily Swan (Franklin, Mass./Franklin) and Tori D’Amato (Hampden, Mass./Merrimack) were also strong with a pair of markers, while junior Tessa Leahy (Cohasset, Mass./Cohasset) rounded out the Falcons attack with two assists.
The Owls jumped out to an early 3-0 lead just two minutes into the contest as Kelley and Keeley rifled off three straight goals, but Fitchburg State fought back, bringing the score to a one point battle (5-4) at the 22:45 mark. Both teams traded scores over the next eight minutes with the Owls clinging to a one point lead, but Westfield State’s Kelley hit home with 21 seconds remaining in the half for a 7-5 Owl lead at the break.
In the second half, play continued to be tight as Fitchburg State rallied from its two goal deficit to even the score at 9-9 at the 37:34 mark. D’Amato, Burns and Swan opened the period with a trifecta of goals for the Falcons, while J. Kelley brought the game to a 9-9 deadlock with the equalizer.
Westfield State responded in timely fashion, grabbing a three goal lead less than four minutes later. Kelley, Dionne and Keeley each added tallies in the scoring surge. The Owls tallied three unanswered goals in the final 5:48 to pull away from the Falcons.
The Owls held a slim 34-31 advantage in shots, while the Falcons controlled the draw controls with a 19-13 advantage. Freshman Abbie Brown (Westwood, Mass./Westwood) suffered the loss in net for Fitchburg State, stopping five shots in 43 minutes of work, while Britta Anderson (Holden, Mass./Wachusett Regional) earned the Owl victory with 11 saves between the pipes.
Fitchburg State (5-3, 1-1 NEWLA) will be back in action on Tuesday as it travels to Southern Maine at 4 p.m. Westfield State (4-1, 1-0 NEWLA) will host Norwich University on Tuesday at 4 p.m.