Box Score DUDLEY, Mass. (Oct. 15) – Senior forward Paula Bartalamia scored a pair of goals to lead the Fitchburg State field hockey team to a 2-1 victory over Nichols College Thursday evening in a non-conference matchup at Vendetti Field. The loss marks the first on the season for the Bison, who saw their program-record win streak end at 13 games. Fitchburg won its fourth-straight game to improve to 9-3 overall.
The game was started with a special pink ball and both teams donned special pink insignia in support for Play 4 the Cure and the fight against breast cancer. Nichols accepted donations for pink wristbands with all proceeds going to the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Foundation and the American Cancer Society.
Bartalamia got the visiting Falcons on the board just over a minute into the game as sophomore Jamie Kelley came flying up the far sideline before firing the ball into the circle. Bartalamia was perched at the netfront to knock in the goal at 1:07.
The one-goal lead stood until the pair connected again in the 27th minute on almost an identical play for a two-goal advantage at 26:49.
Fitchburg State looked to edge ahead again in the 41st minute when Torey Van Ahnen was awarded a penalty stroke, but Nichols goalkeeper Krista-Jean Forand (Plymouth, Mass.) was up to the task.
Nichols closed the gap in the 47th minute as Chelsea Correia (Seekonk, Mass.) finished off a pass in front of the net from Eileen Clinton (Londonderry, N.H.). The play originated on a corner set, but got held up in the circle before Clinton collected the loose ball and tipped it across to Correia.
Taylor Van Ahnen made nine saves for her sixth win of the season, while Forand took the loss with two saves in the first 48 minutes. Senior MaryKate Bednarz (Springfield, Mass.) finished out the game with one save.
Nichols also honored its five seniors prior to the game: Sara Bailey (Athol, Mass.), Bednarz, Beverly Burrill (Bridgewater, Mass.), Marie Kauker (Bellingham, Mass.) and Emily Stearns (Mansfield, Mass.).
Nichols returns to The Commonwealth Coast Conference play Saturday at University of New England at 1 p.m. Fitchburg travels to Plymouth State Saturday for a 3 p.m. Little East Conference game.
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