Rhode Island College Swoops Past Fitchburg State, 8-2

O'Connell nets first collegiate tally for Falcons in non-conference setback

PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Freshman forward Brittany DeGrooth registered two goals and one assist as the Anchorwomen of Rhode Island College defeated Fitchburg State University, 5-1 in non-conference women's soccer action at the RIC Soccer Field this evening.

In the first stanza, Rhode Island College opened scoring in the eighth minute of action when junior Chelsea Combs gathered a feed from sophomores Lily Medeiros and Stephanie Ricci and deposited the ball into the back of the net for 1-0 lead.

The Falcons knotted the score (1-1) at the 11:48 mark as junior forward Victoria Floeck blasted a
shot inside the near post for her second marker on the season off an assist from freshman Maddie Medina.

The Anchorwomen regained the lead one minute later when DeGrooth buried a shot into the left side of the net for her third tally on the 2015 campaign as Combs assisted on the play to make the score 2-1.

The hosts upped its advantage (3-1)at the 17:24 mark as DeGrooth fired a shot into the upper right corner of the net for her second tally of the contest before senior Gabrielle Turner and freshman Olivia Capraro found the back of the net as the Anchorwomen took a 5-1 lead into the break.

Following intermission, Rhode Island College continued its offensive pressure as Combs rifled a shot into the back of the net for her second goal of the contest with Turner adding an assist on the play to take  a 6-1 lead five minutes into the stanza.

The Green and Gold capped the scoring in the 80th minute of action when freshman Sioban O'Connell collected a feed from classmate Jessica Hall and struck for her first collegiate tally, resulting in the 8-2 final.

Throughout the game, Rhode Island College held a 22-17 margin in shots, while the corner kicks were even a 4-4. In net, the duo of senior Morgan Steele and freshman Shelby Gale combined for seven saves for the Falcons, while junior Katherine Haley stopped two shots for the Mustangs in 73:45 minutes of action.

Fitchburg State (2-11-0, 0-3-0 MASCAC) will be back in action on Saturday as it visits the Bears of Bridgewater State at 12 p.m. Rhode Island College (1-11-0, 0-4-0 LEC) will host Plymouth State Unviersity on Saturday at 1 p.m.