FITCHBURG, Mass. – Fitchburg State got off to a strong start and never looked back in handing the Regis (Mass.) women's lacrosse team just its third loss of the season, an 11-7 defeat Thursday in non-conference action at Elliot Field. Kerri Anselmo (Natick, Mass.) provided the scoring for the Pride (11-3) with five goals, sharing game-high honors with FSU's Carrie Long.
Long and Ali Laferriere combined for eight goals, ten ground balls, ten draw controls and eight caused turnovers for the Falcons (8-6) in the victory. For the Falcons Nicole Lee, Andrea Comeau and Tracy Long also tipped the twine on the night. While junior Lia Crutchfield played stellar defense with 4 ground balls and four caused turnovers, and freshman Nicole Kopacz contributed in the backfield with seven ground balls and two caused turnovers.
In addition to her team-high five goals, Anselmo had three ground balls and one caused turnover.
The teams battled through seven minutes of scoreless ball until the Falcons solved the Pride's defense. C. Long converted a pair of 8-meter shots to initiate the host's offense. Laferriere deposited her 38th and 39th tallies of the season to push the Falcons to a 4-0 advantage midway through the opening frame.
Regis countered with scores from Anselmo and Nicole Roche (Waltham, Mass.) to cut the deficit in half (4-2). However C. Long potted a pair of scores sandwiched around Lee's third marker on the season to give the Falcons a 7-2 lead at the intermission.
After the break the Pride mounted a valiant comeback. With the Falcons ahead 8-2, the Pride receive three straight goals off the stick of Anselmo to get within three (8-5). The Green and Gold countered with a trio of their own with scores from Laferriere, Comeau and T. Long to up the advantage (11-5). Regis add a pair of scores late for the 11-7 final.
Sophomore Marguerite Belcher made 10 saves to pick up her eighth victory of the season. Junior Maresa Malcolm (Barrington, N.J.) made 12 saves in a losing effort. Fitchburg State held a 26-14 shot advantage as well as a 34-29 edge in ground balls. The Falcons won 13-of-20 draw controls.
Regis returns to action Saturday when it visits Southern Vermont for a 1:00 p.m. start. The Falcons return to action the same day, traveling to Bridgewater State for a MASCAC match-up starting at 11:30 a.m.
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