#4 Fitchburg State Battles #1 Bridgewater State

Falcons travel to Bridgewater State this Wednesday for NEWLA semifinal at 4:30 p.m.

FITCHBURG, Mass. (May 4, 2010) – Fourth-seeded Fitchburg State will be in action tomorrow afternoon at 4:30 p.m. as it battles top-seeded Bridgewater State College in semifinal round action of the 2010 New England Women’s Lacrosse Alliance playoffs.  

RICK TERRIO

Since its inception to the NCAA just three years ago, the Fitchburg State women’s lacrosse team and third-year head coach, Rick Terrio have established themselves as an elite Division III team. This season, Fitchburg State concluded its 2010 campaign with a program-best 10-6 record overall and a 4-3 mark in the NEWLA. The Falcons boasted a remarkable 5-1 record over the last two weeks of the season, including key conference victories over Framingham State (12-9) and Becker College (19-5) to clinch their first-ever playoff berth.

“Success and improvement over the three years has been a total team effort in season and out of season,” said Terrio. “I think a majority of the women who have come to Fitchburg State to play lacrosse are all leaders in the own way. Together we have all worked toward the same goal and I am proud of my players and coaches for overcoming many struggles along the way.”

This year, the Fitchburg State has possessed a three-headed offensive attack as senior Emily Swan (Franklin, Mass./Franklin), sophomore Amanda Burns (Weymouth, Mass./Weymouth) and freshman Jamie Kelley (Pepperell, Mass./North Middlesex) have combined for 127 goals, 63 assists and an incredible 190 points.

EMILY SWAN

Swan has paced the Falcons three-headed monster, tallying a team-best 77 points (5th – NEWLA) on 48 markers and 29 assists. She has experienced a record breaking season, etching her name in both the Fitchburg State career records and NCAA Division III record books.

Over the course of the last week, Swan became the second player in program history to score 100 career goals, while also cracking the NCAA record books with the fastest DIII goal ever scored vs. Becker (:06). The three-year captain is also nearing another Fitchburg State milestone as she remains only four points shy of the 200 point plateau.

Aiding Swan on the attack has been two-year sensation Amanda Burns. In only her second year at the collegiate level, the sophomore standout has achieved great success, posting 141 career points on 113 goals and 28 assists. This season, she ranks second on the team with 71 points (8th - NEWLA), notching a team-high 55 goals (4th - NEWLA) and 16 assists. She has been ruthless on the draw, taking in a team-best 38 draw controls, while recording 38 groundballs and 20 caused turnovers.

Rounding at the Falcons potent offense has been freshman Jamie Kelley. Kelley has added a high-paced, speed burst to the Fitchburg State lineup, touching for 42 points on 24 goals and 18 assists in her rookie campaign. She has earned the covenant NEWLA Rookie of the Week honor twice this season and currently ranks among conference leaders in caused turnovers (3rd), groundballs (4th) and assists (8th).

CONNIE PERRY

Fitchburg State has been just as solid in the midfield, relying on All-Conference candidates Connie Perry (Reading, Mass./Reading Memorial) and Carissa Kennedy (Somerset, Mass./Bishop Stang). Together, the two have combined for an amazing 97 groundballs, 63 draw controls and 53 caused turnovers. Kennedy currently ranks second in the NEWLA with 52 groundballs and fourth overall with 23 caused turnovers, while Perry has turned in 45 pickups and 20 CT’s.

Between the pipes, the Falcons sport the best goaltending tandem in the conference, boasting a league-low, 9.26 goals against average. Freshman Abbie Brown (Westwood, Mass./Westwood) has seen a bulk of the action, logging 649 minutes with 90 saves, a 9.34 GAA and five victories, while junior Elizabeth Rubin (Brighton, Mich./Brighton) has added five wins, 32 saves and 310 minutes worth of work.

Earlier this season, Bridgewater State defeated Fitchburg State, 20-11 at Elliot Field. The Falcons maintained striking distance for the first half of play, facing a slim 5-3 deficit at the break, but Fitchburg State fell victim to a 15 goal surge by the Bears in the second period to suffer their only loss in their last six contests. Burns led all Falcon scorers with a team-best five points on five goals, while Swan added one goal and three assists.

The winner of fourth-seeded Fitchburg State and top-seed Bridgewater State will advance to the NEWLA Championship on Saturday, May 8th to face the winner of third-seeded Castleton State (12-5, 6-1 NEWLA) and second-seeded Westfield State (11-3, 6-1 NEWLA). Games will be played on the highest remaining seed with the NEWLA Champion receiving an automatic berth to the NCAA Division III Women’s Lacrosse Championship.

2010 NEWLA  PLAYOFF BRACKET

WEDNESDAY MAY 5, 2010
GAME 1: #4 Fitchburg State (10-6, 4-3 NEWLA) at #1 Bridgewater State (13-4, 6-1 NEWLA), 4:30pm
GAME 2: #3 Castleton State (12-5, 6-1 NEWLA) at #2 Westfield State (11-3, 6-1 NEWLA), 4pm

SATURDAY MAY 8, 2010
GAME 3: Winner GAME 1 vs. Winner GAME 2, TBA