Fitchburg State Clip Women’s Soccer, 2-1, in Double OT 

Fitchburg State Clip Women’s Soccer, 2-1, in Double OT 

EAST BOSTON – Fitchburg State broke a 1-1 tie in the 108th minute to steal Suffolk women's soccer home opener by a 2-1 margin Saturday afternoon at James A. Sartori Stadium at East Boston Memorial Park. 

THE BASICS
SCORE: Suffolk 1, Fitchburg State 2 
RECORDS: Suffolk (1-1-0) | Fitchburg State (2-2-0)  

HOW IT HAPPENED
Suffolk started the scoring in the waning minutes of the first frame. At the 35-minute mark Addisyn Lanza dribbled the ball through the center of the Fitchburg defense and lofted a through ball to Carley Pearce, who snuck the ball past Falcons goalie Dania Potti.  

The Rams dominated the offensive zone in the first stanza, tallying 11 shots compared to the Falcon's two.  

Out of the break, Suffolk had an opportunity to extend their lead as Caleigh O'Brien went on a breakaway. The junior forward took on new Fitchburg State keeper Sarah Hemmings one-on-one, but her scoring chance was thwarted to the left side of the net.  

The visitors were able to gain some momentum with a free kick opportunity inside the penalty box in the 61st minute. Micalea Goldenberg took advantage of the chance and knotted the game at one by striking the ball past the outstretched arms of Suffolk keeper Allison Rodrigues.  

Despite both teams seeing opportunities over the last five minutes of regulation, neither broke open the scoring to force the extra frame.  

After the first 10 minutes went scoreless the second set of 10 looked to end the same way. Elizabeth Read had other things in mind, however, when she fired a shot just outside the reach of Rodrigues' glove with 1:16 left on the clock to lift the Falcons to the 2-1 triumph.  

KEEPING UP WITH THE KEEPERS

  • Rodrigues made one save in a full-game performance. 
  • Hemmings earned the victory with a seven-save effort. 
  • Politi put together a two-save effort in 35:07 of action.  

STATISTICALLY SPEAKING

  • Pearce tallied her first points of the season as the sophomore was responsible for Suffolk's lone goal. 
  • Lanza set-up Pearce's point with an assist. 
  • Suffolk had 21 shots compared to the Fitchburg's nine. 
  • The home squad tallied 10 shots on goal, while the visiting Falcons had three. 
  • The Rams held the edge in corners, 5-0.  

NOTEWORTHY

  • Suffolk and Fitchburg State met for the first time. 
  • The Rams played in back-to-back overtime contests for just the second time in program history and first in a decade with the last coming Oct. 7-12, 2009. 
  • Suffolk dipped to 1-2-1 in overtime under Ashley Van Vechten's guidance.  

POST-GAME PIC
  

LOOKING AHEAD
Suffolk has a road trip on the calendar Monday, Sept. 9 when it treks to Mass. Maritime. Game time at Clean Harbors Stadium in Buzzards Bay, Massachusetts is set for 7 p.m.