Women's Soccer Blank Vikings In MASCAC Opener

Liebler collects first collegiate marker for Green and Gold

Salem, MA – The Fitchburg State women's soccer team registered a 3-0 victory over the Vikings of Salem State this evening in Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) action from Alumni Field.

The Basics

Score: Fitchburg State 3, Salem State 0

Records: Fitchburg State (2-4, 1-0 MASCAC) | Salem State (0-5-1, 0-1-0 MASCAC)

How It Happened

Salem State threatened in the 32nd minute when senior Brenna Paquette (Hudson, NH) and junior Jenna Thomas (Cumberland, RI) put back-to-back shots on frame, but Falcon netminder Madison Dawkins (Haverhill, MA) denied both scoring opportunities.

Fitchburg State nearly found the back in the net late in the first half as sophomore Adrianna Westcott (Sayreville, NJ) ripped a pair of shots on target, only to have Viking keeper Lily Pfefflerle (St. Paul, MN) stand tall, making both saves to preserve the 0-0 stalemate going into the break.

Following the intermission, the Falcons took the lead in the 53rd minute of play with freshman Noelle Kennedy (Walpole, MA) collecting a feed from senior Ashley Porter (Upton, MA) and depositing a shot into the back of the net for her second marker of the season for the 1-0 lead.

Fitchburg State doubled the lead (2-0) 11 minutes later when sophomore Charlotte Meixsell (Boxford, MA) ripped a shot into the right side of the net for her first tally of the 2023 campaign. The Green and Gold secured the victory with 33 seconds remaining in regulation as freshman Stella Liebler (Plainville, CT) tucked the ball inside the lower left corner for her first collegiate goal off an assist from Porter, resulting in the 3-0 final.

Inside the Numbers

• This evening's contest marked the 31st meeting between the two teams on the pitch with the Falcons 8-23-0 all-time when taking on the Vikings
• Fitchburg State held a 26-17 margin in shots, while both teams finished with three corner kicks
• Dawkins stopped nine shots for the Falcons to earn her first collegiate shutout
• Pfefferle made 18 saves for the Vikings
• Stella Liebler notched her first collegiate score for the Green and Gold

Up Next

Fitchburg State returns to action on Tuesday as hosts the Hawks of Roger Williams University in non-conference action, starting at 4:00PM.

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