Box Score Coach Walker's Postgame Comments
NORTHAMPTON, Mass.--Four goals from Amanda Burns lifted Fitchburg State University past Smith College, 8-5, in the opening lacrosse matchup for both teams on a rainy Thursday afternoon.
The Falcons (1-0) scored the final four goals of the first half to break open a tie game. First year
Becky Bracken (Barrington, R.I./Barrington) got the scoring going with her first collegiate goal, an unassistated tally that came four minutes into the contest. Fitchburg responded with a goal from Connie Perry, followed by the first of four from Burns to put the Falcons in front 2-1 with eight minutes played.
Alyssa Bobe (Greenfield, Mass./Northfield Mt. Hermon), playing her first collegiate game since 2005, netted a goal at the 18:43 mark, but the Falcons went ahead for good with four consecutive tallies. Burns and Kelly Finamore alternated strikes in the final 15 minutes of the half to send FSU into the break up 6-2.
Smith roared out of the gate in the second half, getting goals from
Sofia Nakhnikian-Weintraub (Eugene, Ore./South Eugene) with six minutes played in the second stanza, and
Meaghan Fileti (Palos Verdes Estates, Calif./Palos Verdes)'s first marker of the afternoon pulled Smith with in two goals with 22 minutes left to play.
The Falcons controlled much of the possession in the final 15 minutes, and went back in front by four on Jill Shaner's goal with 12:33 left, and Burns completed the scoring for FSU with a goal at the 7:51 mark. Fileti pulled one more back for Smith with 5:21 to play, but Smith could not get closer down the stretch.
Alina Pechacek (Andover, Mass./Phillips Academy) and Meredith Kallfelz split time in goal for the Pioneers - Kallfelz made three saves and Pechacek made five. Dylana Drolette made six saves between the pipes for Fitchburg State.
Smith will head to much warmer temperatures for their next two games, facing Gordon College on March 14 in West Palm Beach, Florida at 4 p.m. They will also play either Mt. St. Vincent College or Curry College on March 16.
