Women's Lacrosse drops non-conference contest to Fitchburg State

(Fitchburg, Mass.) The Rivier University Women's Lacrosse team dropped a non-conference contest at Fitchburg State University this evening, 13-8 at Elliot Field on FSU's campus. Rivier is now 3-3 overall on the season while the Falcons up their record to 4-2.

Junior Amanda Wickens opened the scoring for the Raiders just 54 seconds into the contest, connecting on her team-leading 17th tally on the year before sophomore Jaimee Lutz found the back of the net for the Falcons to knot the score at 1-1.

The two squads proceeded to trade scores over the next 16 minutes of play with Wickens tallying two of her three first half goals, while sophomore Catherine Connolly and senior Jocelyn Park added markers for the visitors.

Sophomore Bailey Miller, Lutz, junior Kayla Panek and senior Brianna Dunn posted the Falcons goals over that stretch. With the score tied at 5-5, the Green and Gold regained the lead with just under nine minutes remaining in the half as junior Andrea Comeau connected on her 11th tally on the season to give the Falcons a 6-5 margin going into the break.

Following intermission, Fitchburg State scored the first two goals of the second half (8-5) with Comeau and junior Ali Laferriere finding the back of the net before Wickens answered with a pair of tallies of her own in between a marker from sophomore Lia Crutchfield to make the score 9-7.

The Falcons secured the victory, scoring four straight tallies on goals by Dunn and Laferriere and a pair of tallies by Lutz, while Rivier capped the scoring with a marker from senior Paxton LaRocque, resulting in the 13-8 final.

Fitchburg State was led by Lutz, who finished with a team-leading five points on four goals and one assist as well as eight ground balls, two draw controls and a pair of caused turnovers, while Dunn and Laferriere combined for six points on four markers and two helpers to go along with three ground balls.

For RIvier, Wickens totaled a game best six points on five scores and one assist with six draw controls, six ground balls and two caused turnovers, while Park added one point on one goal as well as one ground ball, three draw controls and one caused turnover.

In goal, senior Liz Darrigo stopped 12 shots for the Falcons in 60 minutes of work, while newcomer Courtney Laperriere was stellar in net for the Raiders, making 25 saves in the complete game effort.

Rivier will open up Great Northeast Athletic Conference play when they return to the field on Saturday (3/26) morning at Simmons College. Fitchburg State will travel to Regis College on Tuesday evening.