MILLS, THOMPSON TALLY THREE EACH, MUSTANGS FALL 11-9

The Mount Ida College women's lacrosse team dropped their second consecutive contest falling to non-league Fitchburg State University by a score of 11-9 Monday evening.  The Mustangs, who sit in fourth place in the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) standings, slumping to an even 6-6 for 2011. 

Freshman Ebony Mills (Harrison, ME/Oxford Hills) led the Mustangs offensive efforts with four points (3 goals, 1 assists) while junior Jen Thompson (Easton, MD/Easton) collected a trio of markers.

Junior Amanda Burns (Weymouth, MA/Weymouth) proved to be the difference maker, scoring a game-high six points with three goals and three assists, while classmate Kelly Finamore (Weymouth, MA/Weymouth) added to the mix, posting four scores and one dish. Sophomore Jill Shaner (Arlington, MA/Arlington) was also solid, chipping in with a pair of trio makers.

Fitchburg State controlled the first half of play, registering 16 shots and 15 groundballs in the stanza. The Falcons opened the contest with a quick 2-0 lead sparked by goals from Shaner and senior Connie Perry (Reading, MA/Reading Memorial), but Mount Ida cut its deficit in half with a Jen Thompson (Easton, MD/Easton) score at 26:20. The Falcons and Mustangs traded goals again at the 20:07 mark, before Fitchburg State rallied off back-to-back goals (Burns/Bonasera) for a 5-2 advantage.

Clinging to a 6-4 margin at the break, Fitchburg State used steady ball control in the second half to earn its seventh victory of the season. Mount Ida opened the half strong as Danielle Chuba (Wrightstown, NJ/Northern Burlington) connected just 0:34 into the period, but the Falcons answered with a pair of goals off the sticks of Burns and Finamore to gain a three point margin (8-5).

Fitchburg State increased its lead to four (10-6) with just eight minutes remaining in the contest as Finamore and Shaner notched another Falcon pair, but the Mustangs did not go quietly, cutting the Falcon lead to only two with 0:26 remaining in regulation. Mills led the charge single handily for Mount Ida, finding the back of the net twice over a span of 1:26.

The Mustang rally ended their however as the Falcons defense and freshman goaltender Dylana Drolette (Burlington, VT/Burlington) stopped Mount Ida's last ditch efforts. Drolette finished the contest with seven saves between the pipes, while freshman Katherine Chousa (Norwood, MA/Norwood) totaled ten stops for the visitors.

For the contest, Fitchburg State controlled the ground game, taking advantage of 28 Mount Ida turnovers and posting 27 groundballs. The Falcons grabbed a majority of the draw controls (13-9) as Perry totaled a game-high four snags and four groundballs.

The Mustangs will travel to GNAC foe Simmons College this coming Wednesday with game time slated for 7:00 p.m.