Falcons Clip Vikings 4-3

SALEM, MASS. – Chloe Gladu (North Reading, Mass.) broke a 3-3 tie with less than seven minutes remaining as Fitchburg State defeated Salem State 4-3 in Little East field hockey action on Saturday afternoon at Alumni Field. The Falcons improve to 2-3 and even their record at 1-1 in conference while the Vikings remain winless at 0-4 and 0-2 in the league.

Aislinn DeHorsey (Leominster, Mass.) notched two goals while Molly Richard (Leominster, Mass.) added a pair of assists for Fitchburg State. Courtney Smith (Peabody, Mass.) had two assists for Salem State.

Gladu corralled a loose ball after the Falcons pressured Vikings keeper Kelli McCarthy (Foxborough, Mass.) and rifled in a shot from the left wing for the game-winner.

Emily Rapoza (Townsend, Mass.) scored her first goal of the year, putting Salem State on top 1-0 in the 23^rd minute. However, DeHorsey responded just seventeen seconds later to tie the game 1-1. In a tightly played contest, both teams combined for just eight shots before heading into halftime even on the scoreboard.

DeHorsey gave Fitchburg State the lead back just over five minutes into the second before Emma Barnaby (Leominster, Mass.) increased the lead to 3-1 in the 40^th minute. Salem State responded as Casie Curtin (Wrentham, Mass.) and Jillian Danton (Arlington, Mass.) connected for back-to-back goals, both assisted by Smith to tie the game once again at 3-3.

Despite taking 10 corners in the second half, the Vikings could not mount another comeback in the final minutes as Fitchburg State escaped with a 4-3 victory.

Abby Bryant (Ware, Mass.) earned the win in goal making four saves while McCarthy stopped three shots in the loss. Salem State held a 13-4 advantage in corners for the game.