Women’s Lacrosse Suffers First Conference Loss with 11-9 Setback to Fitchburg St.
Framingham, Mass. – The Framingham State University women's lacrosse team suffered their first conference loss of the season this afternoon as sophomore Samantha Bonasera (Chelsea, Vt.) scored the game winner for Fitchburg State with just over four minutes remaining to lift the Falcons to an 11-9 victory over the Rams.
Both teams are now 3-1 in the NEWLA which places them tied for second in the conference standings. The victory propels the Falcons to 9-1 overall on the year, while the Rams fall to 3-6 on the season.
The Falcons took a 1-0 lead just forty seconds into the game as junior Kelly Finamore (Weymouth, Mass.) scooped a rebound and found the back of the net. Framingham State responded with three goals over the next six minutes to take a 3-1 lead as sophomore Heather Masse (Billerica, Mass.) scored twice and freshman Lauren Kent (Framingham, Mass.) converted a free position shot.
The Rams lead would not last long as the Falcons scored the game's next five goals, including three in the next five minutes, to regain momentum and the lead. Junior Amanda Burns (Weymouth, Mass.) scored four of the Falcons five goals over the stretch including back-back-goals that tied the game at 3-3. Burns converted a free position shot at 21:47 and connected for her second of the game off a feed from Finamore forty-two seconds later.
Burns and Finamore connected again with 18:58 remaining in the game to put the Falcons back on top. Burns added an unassisted tally with just over six minutes remaining and Finamore converted a free position shot with just thirty seconds remaining in the half to give the Falcons a 6-3 lead at the break.
The Rams came storming back to start the second half scoring the game's next four goals. Senior Stephanie Corrales (Framingham, Mass.) controlled a rebound in front of the goal and fired a shot into the back of the net that pulled the Rams back within two. Sophomore Chelsea Temple cut the Rams deficit to one with her first of the game with 22:07 remaining. Junior Kerry Kiley (Mansfield, Mass.) scored with just under eighteen remaining and Temple added her second of the game with just over fourteen minutes left to put the Rams back on top 7-6. Massee assisted on both tallies.
Framingham State goalie Kelsey Turner (Billerica, Mass.) was outstanding in the second half making 11 of her 16 saves. Turner kept the Falcons off the board for the first 22 minutes of the second half allowing the Rams offense to regain the lead.
The Falcons were finally able to break in the scoring column late in the half as Jessica Bartlett (Marlborough, Mass.) and Burns converted free position shots to put Fitchburg State up 8-7 with 6:07 left on the clock.
Framingham State tied the game and retook the lead on a pair of goals by Kent with 5:44 remaining, but the Falcons answered with a goal just eight seconds later from Cassandra Benoit, who controlled the draw and raced down the field to score tying the game at 9-9.
The Falcons quickly retook the lead for good as Bartlett hit Bonasera in front of the net and Bonasera found the back of the net for game winner with 4:22 left. Bonasera added an insurance goal with twelve seconds remaining to reach the final margin of 11-9.
Burns led all scorers in the game with five goals, while Finamore added a pair of goals and a pair of assists. Dylana Drolette (Burlington, Vt.) picked up the victory in net making 13 saves including a pair of saves in the final three minutes to preserve the win.
Kent led the Rams with three goals, while Massee and Temple each added two. Kiley and Massee eached chipped in a pair of assists.
The Rams return to action on Tuesday as they host Lasell College at 4:30 p.m., while the Falcons travel to Rivier on Monday at 7 p.m.