FRAMINGHAM, MA – Freshman Isabela DeSouza of Framingham tallied a pair of goals and picked up two assists as the Framingham State University women’s soccer team defeated conference leader Fitchburg State 5-4 this afternoon in Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) women’s soccer action at Maple Street Field.

With the win, the Rams improve to 8-6-1 on the year and 3-2-1 in the MASCAC, while the loss is the second straight MASCAC loss for the Falcons who are now 4-2 in the conference and 10-3-2 overall.

In a high scoring first half, the Rams took a 1-0 lead in the 7th minute as sophomore Marissa D’Angelo took a thru ball from DeSouza and beat the Falcon keeper with a well-place shot inside the far post.

The Rams lead would be short lived as the Falcons answered with a goal at 14:01. Sophomore Rebecca Spiro sent the ball ahead to classmate Rachel Jamieson and Jamieson found the back of the net tying the game at 1-1.

Three minutes later the Rams staked themselves a 2-1 lead when sophomore Kayla Austin sent a corner into the box and DeSouza one timed it into the net.

The Falcons once again answered with a goal in the 22nd minute tying the score at 2-2 as senior Katie Hayward scored on a corner off an assist from Julie Dowson.  Fitchburg State took their first lead of the game (3-2) in the 30th minute as Jamieson blasted a shot in the top corner for her second tally of the game.

The Rams answered with three goals over the next ten minutes to take a 5-3 lead. DeSouza added her second of the game in the 32nd minute when she carried the ball down the left side pulling the Falcon keeper off her line and scoring unassisted with a shot inside the post. In the 37th minute freshman DeSouza fired a shot on net that hit the cross bar and  Marisa Parent knocked the rebound home giving the Rams the lead back. Then in the 41st minute Parent hit the cross bar with a shot and DeSouza collected the rebound and dropped a pass to Austin who scored giving the Rams a two goal lead.

The Falcons cut the deficit back to one in the 42nd minute when they were awarded a penalty kick after a player was tackled in the box. Hayward placed the penalty kick past the Rams diving keeper sending the game to the half with the Rams leading 5-4.

After a high scoring first half, the Rams were able to hold off all of the Falcon advances as they were outshot 13-7 in the second half by the visitors to pick up the key victory.

The Rams outshot the Falcons 27-22 in the game with the Falcons holding an 8-5 edge in corner kicks.

Freshman McKenzie Vershon picked up the win in net for the Rams making eight saves, while Jillian Kirouac surrendered four goals for the Falcons while making 11 saves and Kelsey Ford (Franconia, NY) allowed one goal with an assist.

The Rams return to action on Wednesday at UMass Boston at 3 p.m.

Thanks to Kathy Lynch, Assistant Director of Athletics/Sports Information at Framingham State University for contributing this story. For more FSU RAMS sports info, box scores, calendar of upcoming games and sporting events, visit their website at: www.fsurams.com

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