Women's Lacrosse Breaks into Win Column with 11-6 Triumph over Salem State

Framingham, Mass. – Behind a game-best six goals from sophomore Zoe Reilly (Boyertown, PA), the Framingham State University women's lacrosse broke into the win column this afternoon with an 11-6 victory over Salem State University in Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) action at Framingham's Maple Street Field.   

With the win, the Rams are now 1-5 on the year and 1-1 in the conference, while the Vikings fall to 1-6 overall and 0-2 in the MASCAC.

Reilly led all scorers with her six goals including four straight to close the first half and open the second half as the Rams grabbed the lead for good.  Sophomore Ashley Holmes (East Sandwich, Mass.) was the only other Ram to record multiple points in the game as she picked up a goal and an assist.  Senior Heather Masse (Billerica, Mass.), sophomore Nicole L'Heureux (Dracut, Mass.), junior Kalie Giatrelis (Mashpee, Mass.) and freshman Amanda Geary (Marlboro, Mass.) each picked up goals for the Rams.

The Vikings were led by two goals from senior Bridget Dullea (Peabody, Mass.) and a goal and an assist from classmate Lauren DeLuca (Salem, Mass.).  Senior Kristin Cahoon (Reading, Mass.) and sophomores Kelsey Russell (Arlington, Mass.) and Kristina Ventura (Billerica, Mass.) tallied a goal apiece for Salem State.

Framingham State took the early lead on Masse's tally just under three minutes into the game, but the Vikings answered with a pair of goals from Ventura and Dullea to take their first lead of the day (2-1).

Reilly countered for the Rams with an unassisted tally with 22:27 to tie the score, but Russell and DeLuca put the Vikings back on top, 4-2, with 13:45 remaining in the first.  Reilly pulled the Rams back within one just 11 seconds later when she snagged a draw control near midfield and raced to the net for her second of game. 

Giatrelis knotted the score with 6:58 left in the first on her first tally and Reilly took over from there.  Reilly gave the Rams a one goal lead at the break as she made a move in traffic in front of the goal and slipped a shot inside the post with 13 seconds left in the half to give the Rams a 5-4 advantage at the intermission.

Reilly started the second half with three goals in the first six minutes of the frame to give the Rams an 8-4 lead that they would not relinquish.  After another Framingham goal, Dullea cut the Rams lead back to four on a free position shot with just under 13 minutes remaining, but Holmes pushed the lead back to five two minutes later.  Each team would tack on an additional goal in the game's final five minutes to reach the final differential.

Salem State held a 35-28 advantage in shots for the game including a 21-10 edge in the second half, but Framingham State freshman goalie Alysha Cericola (Waltham, Mass.) was outstanding in the contest.  Cericola made 17 saves including 14 in the second half to record her first victory of the season.  Freshman Alex Varoutsos (Woburn, Mass.) was tagged with the loss for the Vikings as she made 11 stops.

The Rams return to action on Tuesday with a non-conference game at UMass Dartmouth beginning at 7 p.m., while the Vikings travel to Regis for a non-conference game on Tuesday at 6 p.m.