Salve Regina rallies late, then falls to Fitchburg State, 4-3

NEWPORT, R.I. - The Fitchburg State women's soccer team received a six point effort from freshman Olivia Schnorf (Springfield, Mass.) as the Falcons defeated Salve Regina, 4-3 in non-conference action Saturday afternoon.

Schnorf paced the Fitchburg State attack with three goals, including her first collegiate score midway through the second half. Senior captain Lauren Wundt (Southwick, Mass.) completed the Falcons scoring, adding one goal and three assists in the contest.

Salve Regina used a balanced attack as three players registered goals for the Seahawks. Sophomore Liz Galla (Beacon Falls, Conn.) recorded the Seahawks lone first half marker, while freshman Kaitlyn Birrell (Hope, R.I.) and sophomore Kristen Dostie (Guilford, Conn.) added one goal apiece.

Fitchburg State opened the scoring in the 30th minute of the match as Wundt blasted a 20 yard shot to the top left corner of the goal and connected for her first score of the season. Salve Regina rallied back late in the half as Galla found herself one on one with keeper Melanie Berent (West Hartford, Conn.) and slipped a shot in to knot the score, 1-1 at the break.

The score remained even throughout most of the second half until Schnorf took a Wundt dish and broke the silence in the 76th minute with her first collegiate goal. The duo connected again just 2:02 later as Schnorf buried her second score of the contest, giving the Falcons a 3-1 lead.

Salve Regina responded quickly, scoring two goals in 0:45 span. Birrell sparked the rally with a blast from the top of the box before Dostie brought the game to a 3-3 draw with an unassisted marker in the 85th minute. Fitchburg State remained settled and controlled the tempo as Wundt found Schnorf for a third time to seal the victory in the 89th minute.

Fitchburg State dominated the offensive front, out-shooting the Seahawks 24-11, including a 17-4 advantage in the second half. Berent collected one save in net for the Falcons en route to her first victory of the season, while senior Katie Vaudrain (Pawtucket, R.I.) stopped nine shots for the Seahawks.

Fitchburg State (1-1, 0-0 MASCAC) will be back in action on Thursday as it hosts Eastern Nazarene College at 7 p.m. Salve Regina (1-2, 0-0 TCCC) will travel to UMass Dartmouth on Tuesday at 4 p.m.

Courtesy of Fitchburg State sports information