Framingham State University Women’s Lacrosse Falls to Conference Leader Bridgewater State

Jessica Graham. Recap, photo courtesy of Framingham State University

Framingham, Mass. – The Framingham State University women's lacrosse team was defeated 20-7 this afternoon by conference leader Bridgewater State University in Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) action at Maple Street Field.    

With the win, the Bears improve to 9-5 on the year and 5-1 in the MASCAC which currently places them in a tie with Fitchburg State atop the conference standings. With the loss the Rams drop to 9-7 on the season and 3-3 in the MASCAC.

The Bears took the lead early with a pair of goals in the opening minutes from junior Melissa
Renauld (Framingham, Mass.) and classmate Alex King (North Weymouth, Mass.).  Sophomore Kristen Keenan (Methuen, Mass.) cut the deficit in half for the Rams as she carried the ball through the Bears defense and found the back of the net at 27:27.

The Bears used an 8-0 run fueled by four goals from senior Lauren Geary (Hull, Mass.) to open up a 10-1 lead midway through the half.  Sophomore Kimmy Foley (Mansfield, Mass.) found the back of net unassisted at 11:53.  Bridgewater State added two more including another from Geary, before junior Jessica Graham (Woburn, Mass.) found the back of the net for the Rams with backhanded shot at 8:05.  Bridgewater added two more and Foley added her second of the game in the closing minutes as Bridgewater took a 14-4 advantage into the locker room.

Sophomore Morghan Cassella (Lowell, Mass.) tallied an unassisted marker just under a minute into the second half to cut the Bear lead to nine, but senior Marissa Yowell (Ashland, Mass.) converted a free position shot a minute later to extend the lead back to ten.  Junior Kristen Hoggins (Harvard, Mass.) found the back of the net at 22:51, but the Bears closed the game scoring five of the final six goals of the contest to reach the final margin.

Foley and Graham paced the Rams with two goals apiece, while Cassella finished with a goal and a helper.  Geary led the Bears with a game-best six goals and three assists for nine points, while Renauld finished with five points on three goals and two assists.

Junior Allie Forman (Marblehead, Mass.) earned the win in net for the Bears making four saves, while senior Alysha Cericola (Waltham, Mass.) took the loss for the Rams despite making 17 saves.
Prior to the game, the Rams celebrated senior day and honored their two seniors, Cericola and defender Tori Lane (West Newbury, Mass.).

The Rams close out the regular season on Saturday afternoon at MASCAC rival Westfield State at 5 p.m., while the Bears host Worcester State on Friday night in a MASCAC tilt slated to begin at 7 p.m.