Fitchburg State Clipped By Mount Holyoke, 11-10 (OT)

Panek collects three points for Falcons in non-conference setback 

CLERMONT, Fla. – Fitchburg State University was edged by the Lyons of Mount Holyoke College, 11-10 in overtime in non-conference women's lacrosse this afternoon at the National Training Center in Clermont, Florida.

In the first half, Mount Holyoke jumped out to an early 5-0 lead as senior attacker Julia Bell opened the scoring with three consecutive markers before adding a fourth following a score by junior Charlotte Wagner.

The Falcons cut into the deficit, connecting on the next four goals. Sophomore Corinne DeSimone started things off for the Green and Gold with her fifth tally on the season before classmate Bailey Miller found the back the net.

After a goal from junior attacker Ali Laferriere, newcomer Anna Gagnon-Burch struck for her first collegiate tally off a free position shot to make the score 5-4 with just over seven minutes remaining in the first half.

Bell answered for the Lyons with her fifth goal on the afternoon (6-4) before the Green and Gold knotted the score on scores from junior Kayla Panek and senior Brianna Dunn to make the score 6-6 going into the locker room.

Following intermission, Mount Holyoke regained the advantage on goals by sophomore Lelia Kouakou and Bell (8-6), while Panek and junior Andrea Comeau retied the contest at 8-8 with back-to-back tallies.

The two teams traded goals with sophomore Molly Dunphy and senior Catherine Ryan notching markers for the Lyons, while senior Samantha Bontempo and Laferriere registered scores for the Falcons to knot the score at 10-10 with just under two minutes to play in regulation to send the game into overtime.

In the extra frame, Kouakou gained control of the ball for Mount Holyoke with the opening draw control of the overtime period before finding the back of the net for the game-winner just one minute into the stanza, resulting in the 11-10 final.

Offensively for Fitchburg State, Panek led the way with a team-best three points on two goals and one assists as well as two ground balls and a caused turnover, while Laferriere added two points on a pair of scores to go along with three draw controls, one ground ball and one caused turnover.

Mount Holyoke was paced by Bell, who finished with a game high six points on six goals with one draw control, six ground balls and three caused turnovers, while Ryan added to mix with five points on one goal and four helpers.

For the contest, Fitchburg State finished with a 37-20 advantage in shots as well as a commanding 29-17 margin in groundballs. In goal, senior Liz Darrigo made six stops for the Falcons in 61:49 minutes of action, while junior Isa Rodriquez turned away 14 shots for Mount Holyoke in the complete game effort.

Fitchburg State (2-1, 0-0 MASCAC) returns to action on Thursday as it takes on the Golden Bears of Western New England at the NTC Spring Games in Clermont, Fla. at 6 p.m. Mount Holyoke (1-2, 0-0 NEWMAC) will host Western New England on Wednesday, March 23rd at 5 p.m.

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