SAINTS POST 5-2 WIN AT FITCHBURG STATE

FITCHBURG, Mass. – The Emmanuel College Women's Soccer Team rolled to its second-consecutive win, downing Fitchburg State University, 5-2, on Wednesday night on the Falcons' home field.  With the Saints holding a one-goal lead after the first half, an action-packed second frame featured six goals, including four from Emmanuel, as the visitors improved to 2-0 on the season with the victory.  Fitchburg State's season opened with a loss, as the Falcons drop to 0-1.

This was Emmanuel's second-straight win over the Falcons, after a 3-2 decision last season. The Saints wasted no time getting on the board, scoring quickly in just the eighth minute of action.  Katelyn Fink (Sanford, Maine) took a feed from Kelsie Dumas (Dalton, Mass.) just outside the box and tucked the ball inside the near post to give Emmanuel a 1-0 edge. This would be the only score of the first half for either team, with both teams taking seven shots apiece in the opening 45 minutes.

The Saints would turn up the heat in the second stanza, firing off 22 shots, to just five by Fitchburg.  Senior captain Ari Cardillo (Richmond, Mass.) found Hannah Konicki (Milford, Conn.) for the Saints' second goal of the night and EC led 2-0 just eleven minutes into the second half of action.  The Saints built a three-goal margin in the 59th minute, when Dumas fired in her 7th career goal with an assist coming from classmate Amanda Roberts (Hudson, N.H.).

Each of Emmanuel's tri-captains had a hand in the first three Saints' goals, with Cardillo and Roberts notching assists and Dumas tallying a goal and a helper.  Trailing 3-0, the Falcons managed to get on the board late in the contest, when Sierra Santos (Lakeville, Mass.) scored off an assist from Kim Carroll (Tewskbury, Mass.) at 69:24.

The visitors tacked on two more insurance goals in the 79th and 85th minutes of action.  Rookie forward Hailey Longbottom (Princeton, Mass.) quickly acclimated to collegiate soccer, netting a pair of scores in a span of less than five minutes.  Junior Tess McCarthy (North Attleboro, Mass.) was credited with the assist on Longbottom's first career goal, while junior transfer Molly Carey (Lynn, Mass.) picked up her first point for the Saints with an assist on the Longbottom's second goal.

EC held a 5-1 lead with just five minutes to play, but the hosts were able to score once more before it was over. Falcons' sophomore Samantha Zina (Abington, Mass.) was assisted by Kayla Bridges (Foxboro, Mass.) at 86:42 to bring the final score to 5-2.

Emmanuel's rookie goal keeper Victoria Laroche (Hudson, N.H.) went the distance between the pipes for the Saints, making five saves in the 90 minutes and notching her second collegiate win.  Fitchburg senior Kelsey Ford (Franconia, N.H.) took the loss, but made 12 saves in net for the Falcons.  The Saints outshot the Falcons, 29-12, on the night with a 17-7 shots-on-goal advantage.

Emmanuel will play its home-opener this Friday night, September 5th, when the Saints host Claremont-Mudd-Scripps, traveling from Claremont, California, in the first-ever meeting between these two programs.  Game time is set for 7:00 PM under the lights at Roberto Clemente Field.