Falcons Race Past Rivier in Home Opener

Five Falcons Post Collegiate firsts

Fitchburg, Mass. – The Fitchburg State University women's lacrosse team delivered an 18-4 victory over the Raiders of Rivier University in non-conference action at Elliot Filed on Saturday morning.

Score: Fitchburg State 18, Rivier 4
Records: Fitchburg State (1-0) | Rivier (0-2)

How It Happened

The Falcons raced out to a 9-0 lead to open the 2020 campaign. Junior Madison Alves (Braintree, Mass.) kicked off the game with a score from senior Nicole Kopacz (Tewksbury, Mass.) just 18 seconds into the contest. Senior Tracy Long (Georgetown, Mass.) notched an early hat trick in the run, while freshman Gabrielle Scibilia (Haverhill, Mass.) tallied her first collegiate goal. Senior Dzenana Omerovic (Revere, Mass.) scored the only goal of the frame for Rivier as the Falcons held a 10-1 advantage at halftime.

Rivier opened the second half with goals from senior Amanda Barton (Pelham, NH) and the sixth of the season from Omerovic to cut the deficit to 11-3. However the Falcons answered with three straight including freshman Cali Laakso's (Fitchburg, Mass.) first goal. Two other Falcon first-years tipped the twine for their first collegiate goals, Brooke Johnson (South Dennis, Mass.) and Kara Ippolito (Billerica, Mass.) en route to the 18-4 final.

Inside the Numbers

• Alves paced the Falcons with five points on four goals and one assist as well as six ground balls and one draw control
• Kopacz chipped in with one goal,  two assists, two ground balls, and six draw controls
• Sophomore Julia Miele (South Hadley, Mass.) added two goals, four ground balls and 2 caused turnovers
• Omerovic paced Rivier with two, two ground balls, and one draw control.
• Freshman Francesca Reyes (Malden, Mass.) stopped seven shots for Fitchburg State for her first collegiate win
• Shea Kingsley (Pelham, Mass.) made seventeen saves for Rivier in the setback

Up Next

The Falcons will host the Pride of Regis College on Thursday afternoon for a non-conference bout starting at 4:00 PM.