Field Hockey Drops Heartbreaker to Fitchburg State on Penalty Strokes
Framingham, Mass. - The Framingham State College field hockey team suffered their first loss in conference 2-1 today in heartbreaking fashion on penalty strokes to Fitchburg State at Maple Street Field. Fitchburg State picked up the victory in the third series of penalty strokes as junior goalie Taylor Van Ahnen (Seekonk, Mass.) made a diving save on sophomore Kayleigh Force's (Leominster, Mass.) attempt that would have evened the third series at two and forced another round.
The Rams and the Falcons are now tied atop the Little East Conference (LEC) field hockey standings as both teams are now 4-1 LEC action. The Rams are 7-2 overall and the loss snaps their seven game win streak, while the Falcons are now 6-3 overall.
The Rams, who outshot the Falcons 28-7 in the game and held a 20-1 advantage in penalty corners, took the lead in the 7th minute of play as junior Kristen Sacco (Mendon, Mass.) scored her team leading 13th goal of the season.
The Falcons were able to remain within one goal as Van Ahnen was outstanding in the cage making 16 saves to keep her team within striking distance. Senior Eleni Aidonidis (Winchendon, Mass.) tied the score at 1-1 in the 48th minute as she scored an unassisted tally.
The game would remaining tied and head into overtime where Sacco had two breakaways chances in the final two minutes of the first extra frame. Van Ahnen saved Sacco's first breakaway and the shot on her second went wide forcing a second overtime.
The Rams once again had their chances to win in the second overtime as they had three penalty corners with time expired. They were not able to capitalize on the opportunities and the game went to penalty strokes.
In the first series of strokes, junior Allesha Kenyon (Westford, Mass.), who made three saves on the day in the cage for the Rams, saved the first two Fitchburg attempts. Van Ahnen matched Kenyon's efforts turning away the Rams first two attempts. On Fitchburg State's third attempt Megan Jacobs's (Stoughton, Mass.) attempt went wide left, and Van Ahnen was able to save Andrea DiTerlizzi's attempt for the Rams. Both teams scored on their fourth attempt as Vanessa Truax's (Foxborough, Mass.) and Force's attempts were good. Both goalies saved the fifth and final attempts in the first series to force a second series of penalty strokes.
In the second series, Fitchburg State took a 1-0 lead in the second round as Torey Van Ahnen's attempt was good after the Rams first two attempts went wide of the cage. DiTerlizzi went first in the third round and her attempt was good evening the score at 1-1 in the series, but Aidonidis answered as her stroke was good putting the Falcons back up 2-1 with two rounds remaining. Force led off the fourth round and her attempt was good and Kenyon saved the Falcons fourth round attempt evening the round up at 2-2. Both attempts in fifth round of the second series sailed wide of the cage forcing the third series of penalty strokes.
The Falcons went first and Torey Van Ahnen's attempt was good past the diving Kenyon. DiTerlizzi led off for the Rams and her attempt was good forcing another round. Aidonidis scored on her attempt leading off the second round and Van Ahnen made a diving save on Force's attempt to give the Falcons the win.
The Rams return to action on Tuesday as they travel to Western Connecticut at 6 p.m., while the Falcons travel to Eastern Connecticut on also on Tuesday at 4 p.m.