Bristol Reporter

Behind a strong opening half of action, the UMass Dartmouth women's lacrosse team posted a 16-6 victory over Fitchburg State University in non-conference action on Wednesday at Cressy Field. The win moves the Corsairs to 3-2 overall, while the Falcons slip to 0-2.

The visiting Falcons opened the game's scoring as Jessica St. George buried a feed from Eva Kozikowski at 14:15, but the Corsairs answered quickly as rookie Maddie Wright tallied off a nice pass from junior Melanny Sanchez Alvarez less than two minutes later. 

That score sparked the first of six straight first quarter goals for UMD, including two from Sanchez Alvarez, while Wright had three more - all coming over the final 9:05 of the frame.

Sanchez Alvarez pushed it to a 7-1 margin for the home team to open the second quarter, burying her third of the contest at 13:41. Fitchburg's Cali Laakso broke up the scoring with her second of the season, but four straight goals - two off the stick of rookie Alannah Paiva - saw the Corsairs head into halftime with the 12-2 advantage.

In the third, Wright picked right back up where she left off in the first half, recording her sixth of the evening to open the frame. Fitchburg countered as Alexis Raymond connected on the free position, but a goal from junior Widline Thomas, coupled with another Wright goal pushed the margin to 14-3 and activate a running clock for the remainder of the third.

Fourth quarter action saw back-to-back tallies from the Falcons as Laakso and Kozikowski each scored, but another Thomas score and Wright's game-leading eighth goal closed out the margin for the Corsairs.

Wright, who also added an assist for nine points, posted 12 shots (10) on goal with two ground balls and a caused turnover. She led the way with eight draw controls, also going 4-for-4 in free position attempts. Sanchez Alvarez recorded three goals and two helpers on the night, adding three ground balls, two caused turnovers and five draws, as Thomas had two tallies with two ground balls, a caused turnover and five draws. Paiva added two goals and a helper as senior goalie Payton Conceicao earned the win with five saves.

For Fitchburg, Laakso had three goals, as Kozikowski posted a goal and an assist. Raymond also had a goal and an assist with a ground ball, while St. George added two ground balls and four draws in addition to her tally. In goal, Alyson Cote shouldered the loss with eight saves.

The Corsairs return to action on Saturday in a 2pm game at Mass. Maritime in Buzzards Bay. 

Original source can be found here.