Fitchburg State Shuts Down Curry, 15-11

Finamore propels Falcons to big non-conference victory with a game-high seven points

FITCHBURG, Mass. (April 11, 2011) – Junior Kelly Finamore (Weymouth, Mass./Weymouth) registered a game-high seven points to lead the Fitchburg State women's lacrosse team to a big non-conference victory over Curry College, 15-11 this evening.

Finamore was electric on the offensive end, touching for five goals and two assists on the night, while sophomore Jessica Bartlett (Marlborough, Mass./Marlborough) notched a career-game with six points on four scores and two dishes. Junior Amanda Burns (Weymouth, Mass./Weymouth) continued her hot shooting as well, hitting for three goals and one helper, while sophomore Samantha Bonasera (Chelsea, Vt./Chelsea) touched for a hat-trick.

Senior Ashley Hansbury (Chelmsford, Mass./Chelmsford) was strong on the Curry attack, posting a team-best four points with four goals in the match, while classmate Jessica Koffman (Andover, Mass./Andover) also connected with four points, totaling three goals and one assist. Sophomore Ana Bottary (Hull, Mass./Hull) and junior Laura Glavin (Billerica, Mass./Billerica) rounded out the Colonel offense with two goals apiece.

In a very tight first half which witnessed no lead bigger than two points over the first 29:17, Fitchburg State finally broke loose, scoring three times in the final 1:23 for a 9-6 lead at the break. Curry opened the contest with a quick goal from Hansbury just 0:28 into the game, but back-to-back scores from Burns put the Falcons up 2-1.

The Colonels responded with a pair of their own scores as Hansbury and Bottary found the back of the net, but Fitchburg State answered again, posting three consecutive markers for 5-3 advantage. Bonasera sparked the charge with her tenth score of the season, while Finamore connected twice to notch her 20th marker of the year.

The Colonels fought back over the next couple minutes, knotting the score at 6-6 with goals from Hansbury, Bottary and Koffman, but again the Falcons offense had the answer, posting their three goal rally to close the half.

In the second frame, Fitchburg State put the game away midway through the period, tallying five unanswered goals to grab a seven goal margin (14-7). Bonasera ignited the charge with a pair of scores in the rally, while Bartlett, Finamore and junior Jill Shaner (Arlington, Mass./Arlington) added one goal apiece.

Fitchburg State won the contest on the ground and at the draw, totaling a 21-12 advantage in groundballs and 18-10 margin in draw controls. Senior Connie Perry (Reading, Mass./Reading Memorial) and junior Carissa Kennedy (Somerset, Mass./Bishop Stang) were tenacious on defense, combining for eight Falcon groundballs, while Finamore turned in a team-best four draw controls.

In net, freshman Dylana Drolette (Burlington, Vt./Burlington) improved to 8-1 on the season, totaling seven saves in the complete game effort, while senior  Maria Lynch (Billerica, Mass./Billerica) stopped four shots for the Colonels.

Fitchburg State (8-1, 2-1 NEWLA) will be back in action on Saturday as it travels to Framingham State at 12 p.m. Curry (12-2, 7-1 TCCC) will host Western New England on Saturday at 6 p.m.