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Student-athletes from all six fall teams earn all-academic honors

Complete listing.pdf

Eastern's honorees.pdf

NORTH DARTMOUTH, Mass. -- A total of  32 Eastern Connecticut State University student-athletes representing all six fall sports earned spots on the Fall, 2011 Little East Conference All-Academic Team.

Seniors who were attaining spots on the fall academic honor roll for the maximum third time were Ryan Hughes (Cheshire) and Bryan Jorge (Bristol) of the men's cross country program, Sam Konopka (Hebron) and Jo-Ann Merheb (Bethel) of the women's soccer program and Carl Appel (West Windsor, NJ) of the men's soccer program.

Among the eight full-fledged LEC member institutions, Eastern recorded the second-highest total of all-academic team qualifiers in the fall.

Additional academic honor roll repeaters from last fall were junior Ryan Franklin (Glastonbury) from men's cross country, junior Denica Gagnon (Colchester) and senior Amanda Quinones (Trumbull) from women's cross country, senior Lyndsey Zavisza (Suffield) and junior Rochelle Normandin (South Windsor) from field hockey, juniors Jordan Munsell (Waterford) and Cory Tobler (Portland) from men's soccer, juniors Mackenzie MacLeod (Northfield) and Daniela Marchitto (Orange) from women's soccer, senior Gianna Trombino (East Moriches, NY) and junior Danielle Bourne (Branford) from women's volleyball. Senior women's volleyball player Kristianna Ibsen (Shelton) returned to the team after qualifying as a sophomore in 2009.

To qualify for the team, a student-athlete must have reached sophomore athletic and academic status with a cumulative grade-point average of 3.30.

In addition to their athletic accomplishments, five of the student-athletes were recognized by the conference for their on-field successes this past fall: Quinones ran to All-New England Alliance honors for the third time with an 11th-place finish in the conference championships Oct. 29; Marchitto was named LEC Offensive Player-of-the-Year and to the all-conference first team; Appel was the first-team All-LEC goalkeeper, and Tobler was named to the second team.

Eastern's total of 335 all-academic selections since the program's inception in the fall of 2007 ranks it second among the eight conference institutions - the second most in the conference - 44 more than the third-place institution.

In 2010/11, Eastern featured the most academic honor roll achievers in all three playing seasons, totaling 89; in 2009/10, Eastern won the inaugural Presidents' Cup for having the highest cumulative GPA of all conference institutions.

Smiles of men's soccer team is four-time all-conference selection

NORTH DARTMOUTH, Mass. --  Senior back Aaron Smiles (Bedford, MA) of the men's soccer team and junior forward Daniela Marchitto (Orange) of the women's soccer team have been recognized with major awards by the Little East Conference in its season-ending awards program, it has been announced today.

Above: Aaron Smiles (Cristina Danielson photo)

Smiles was named Defensive Player-of-the-Year and Marchitto Offensive Player-of-the-Year and were among ten Eastern athletes in three sports recognized for their performances this past fall.

Smiles became only the second Eastern player in 23 years of LEC men's soccer to be named to the all-conference team as many as four times, joining two-time Offensive Player-of-the-Year Maxim Fantl (2006-2009). Smiles was named to the first team for the third straight year after earning second-team recognition as a freshman in 2008.

Marchitto was named to the first team twice in three years, repeating the first-team honor in 2009 when she was additionally recognized as Rookie-of-the-Year. She was a second-team choice last season.  Marchitto becomes the program's tenth Player-of-the-Year in the last 16 years - fifth in the last four years.

At left: Daniela Marchitto

A total of  four Eastern players were named to the 13-person first team - the most of any of the eight conference teams. Junior forward Matt Furman (Montville) repeated as a first-team selection, senior keeper Carl Appel (West Windsor, NJ)  was named to the all-conference team for the third time. He was a first-team pick this year and in 2009 and a second-teamer in 2010. Earning recognition for the first time were senior back Matt Esposito (East Haven) and second-team selection Cory Tobler (Portland), a junior forward.

Joining Marchitto on the women's first team  were senior back Amber Petrizzo (Plainville) and junior midfielder Kelly Wallace (South Windsor), while sophomore midfielder Tamar Merheb (Bethel) was a second-team pick. Wallace repeated on the first team and Petrizzo was a second-teamer in 2010.

Junior back Lauren DeLuca (South Windsor) was a third-team selection for the field hockey program, which was presented the Team Sportsmanship Award for the second time in three years.

During the year, Smiles was voted LEC Defensive Player-of-the-Week three times, Appel Goalkeeper-of-the-Week twice, Tobler and Furman Offensive Player-of-the-Week once each, and Esposito was tabbed as the LEC tournament's Most Outstanding Player.

Smiles started all 17 matches in which he appeared (missing three with a concussion), averaging 82.2 minutes per match and contributing five assists to push his career total in that department o 29 - the most by an Eastern player in at least the last 22 seasons.

In seven regular-season conference matches this year, Appel allowed only one goal for a 0.14 goals-against average. In conference regular-season play, he also led the loop in save percentage (.968) and shutouts (5).  Overall, he has posted nine full shutouts in backstopping the team to a program-record 13. He is 12-5-1 with a 0.55 GAA and .885 save percentage, ranking seventh nationally in save percentage and 15th in GAA. As a team, Eastern ranks third in save percentage, fourth in shutout percentage, and sixth in GAA.

The overall Little East scoring leader as a sophomore, Furman shared the conference lead this season in conference matches with four and was third with nine points. He leads Eastern against this year with nine goals (a team-high four game-winners) and 22 points, giving him 25 goals (11 game-winners) and 17 assists in his 55-game Eastern career. His 67 total points rank him second among all players in the last 22 seasons.

A four-year player, Esposito played both back and midfield this year. He has started 17 matches and has contributed six goals (tied for second on the team) and 14 points (tie for third). His penalty-kick goal early in the LEC championship game stood up in the Warriors' 1-0 victory over Keene State College last Saturday at Thomas Nevers Field.

A starter in 16 matches, Tobler is second on the team with 16 points and is second to Furman with three game-winners. In 62 career games, he has 15 goals and 13 assists for 43 points, with six game-winners.

The Eastern men (14-5-1) open play in their fifth straight straight post-season tournament Saturday at 11 a.m. against Springfield College at Amherst, MA. The Warriors, ranked eighth in New England, qualified automatically for the NCAA tournament with a 1-0 victory over Keene State in the conference championship game Saturday.

Marchitto was selected as the conference's Offensive Player-of-the-Week in the first report of the season. Also a first-team all-conference selection in lacrosse last season, Marchitto leads the conference in assists (7) and is second in goals (15) and points (37). She has contributed a point in 14 of 20 matches, including seven straight heading into Sunday's LEC final, won on penalty kicks by Eastern over top-seeded Keene State College at Keene, NH. Marchitto's goal was the only one of the match in a semifinal-round home win over Western Connecituct.

Marchitto's point total is currently the fourth-highest in a season in program history and her goal mark equals the fourth-highest.  Heading into NCAA play, Marchitto ranks third all-time in goals (33), tied for fifth in points (79), and sixth in game-winning goals (10).

A fifth-year senior, Petrizzo joins Marchitto as the only players on the team to start all 20 matches. She leads all  players with 1,637 minutes , an average of 81.9 and has played every minute of 12 matches this year, eight of them coming in succession beginning in mid-September.

A three-year starter, Wallace has started 18 matches this year with four goals and three assists. She assisted on Marchitto's winning goal against Western Connecticut  and knocked in the game-winning penalty kick Sunday against Keene State. She shares seventh place all-time with 19 career assists, ten coming as a freshman.

Merheb has been a two-year starter, teaming at midfield with Wallace.  She has started 18 matches and is second on the team in points (15) and tied for second in goals (6). She has played every minutes 12 times (six straight) and averages 77.5 minutes. Her unassisted goal on a free kick in the 80th minute Oct. 17 provided Eastern with a key 2-1 home conference victory over UMass Boston.

The Eastern women (11-8-1) open play in their fifth NCAA tournament in the last nine years Saturday when they visit No. 4 nationally-ranked and unbeaten Johns Hopkins University at 5 p.m.

A second-year player, DeLuca  becomes the field hockey program's  12th all-conference selection in 11 years.  She becomes only the third Eastern player to be named on defense, following Erika Profenno in 2004 and 2005 and Kristin Therkelsen in 2002. DeLuca let the conference with nine defensive saves. The Warriors finished 3-15, 0-11 in the conference.

All-Conference Selections

MEN'S SOCCER
Carl Appel-1   Sr. K West Windsor, NJ First Team
Matt Esposito   Sr. B East Haven  First Team
Matt Furman-2  Jr. F Montville  First Team
Aaron Smiles-3  Sr. B Bedford, MA  First Team
Cory Tobler   Jr. F Portland  Second Team

Defensive Player-of-the-Year
Aaron Smiles

1-First team in 2009, Second team in 2010 2-First team in 2010
3-Second team in 2008, First team in 2009 and 2010

WOMEN'S SOCCER
Daniela Marchitto-a  Jr. F Orange   First Team
Amber Petrizzo-b  Sr. B Plainville  First Team
Kelly Wallace-c  Jr. MF South Windsor First Team
Tamar Merheb   So. MF Bethel   Second Team

Offensive Player-of-the-Year
Daniela Marchitto

a-First team and Rookie-of-the-Year in 2009, Second team in 2010.
b-Second team in 2010
c-First team in 2010

FIELD HOCKEY
Lauren DeLuca   Jr. B South Windsor Third Team

Team Sportsmanship Award

Eastern Connecticut State University

Down in opening minutes, Warriors bounce back in home-finale, 2-1

MANSFIELD, Conn. -- In the first meeting between the programs, Eastern  Connecticut State University senior Chelsie Rizzo (Bethel)  scored at the left post with nine minutes left to snap a tie as the Warriors ended their home season with a 2-1  victory over Regis College (MA).

At left: Senior Amanda Farina looks for room against Cheyenne Genga in the first half of Tuesday's 2-1 win in the home finale.

Eastern (3-14) won for the second time in the last five outings and for the third time this year at home, while Regis (6-10) had a five-match winning streak snapped, a streak which featured four straight shutout victories.

Trailing 1-0, Eastern tied the match with eight minutes left in the first half on senior Erika Malito's  (Killingly) fourth goal of the season in a scramble in front of the net, and won it on Rizzo's fifth goal of the season. Senior Ali Chapman (Watertown) set up the winning goal with the hit-in on Eastern's 11th penalty corner of the match. Chapman sent the pass in to first-year junior Hannah Collier (Watertown), who drove a hard shot at the cage from the top of the cirle. Regis defemder Victoria Pappas knocked the shot off the goal line, but Rizzo was right there to send the quick deflection into the cage.

Regis needed only 72 seconds to take a 1-0 lead when  Meghan Robohm carried untouched into the circle and fired a waist-high shot past Eastern senior goalie Danielle Reichardt (Ocean Township, NJ). The Pride were outshot 8-2 the rest of the half, however, with the Warriors accumulating six of the seven penalty corners that were awarded over the first 35 minutes.

Making her sixth start of the year, Regis goalie Genesiz Gudiel mad six saves in the first half, holding the Warriors off the board until Malito's equalizer late in the period.

Pappas made two defensive saves for Regis, clearning out a shot by Chapman with 12 minutes left following an Eastern penalty corner with the game tied at 1-all. Fie minutes earlier Eastern junior back Lauren DeLuca (South Windsor) had kept the match tied when she stopped a shot on the back line by Regis'  Cheyenne Genga. Christine O'Toole was there for the rebound of Genga's shot, but Reichardt followed with her only save of the half.

Eastern closes out its season Saturday at Bridgewater State University at 1 p.m. in a Little East Conference match.

Western's penalty stroke in OT puts end to Warriors' LEC tourney hopes

MANSFIELD, Conn. - A penalty stroke late in sudden-death overtime officially ended the Little East Conference playoff hopes of the Eastern Connecticut State University field hockey team Thursday night at the Mansfield Outdoor Complex.

At right Freshman Deisy Naranjo (white shirt) works for possession of the ball Thursday night against Western.

After Eastern (2-13, 0-9 Little East) bounced back from a two-goal deficit for the second time in the last three conference contests to tie the match , Brittany Barra's penalty stroke with 3:22 left in a 30-minute sudden death session - awarded when Eastern senior goalie Danielle Reichardt (Ocean Township, NJ) was cited for covering up a loose ball during a scramble in front of the net -- gave Western Connecticut State University (9-6, 4-5 Little East) a 3-2 victory.

The loss mathematically eliminates the Warriors from attaining one of the eight LEC playoff spots in the 12-team conference, while Western moves into a four-way tie for sixth place in the conference with the win in the match which had been postponed Wednesday due to rain.

Down 2-0 in the opening minutes of the second half, Eastern's defense held Western scoreless from the field for the remaining 60 minutes. The Warriors got one back on senior forward Erika Malito's (Killingly) third goal of the season on an assist from first-year junior Hannah Collier (Watertown) ten minutes into the second half, and pulled even with 8:14 left in regulation on senior midfielder Lyndsey Zavisza's (Suffield) first goal of 2011 on an assist from freshman forward Deisy Naranjo (Washington Heights, NY) -- the first point of her career.

Neither team was able to break through the first 15-minute sudden-death overtime  -- Eastern managing two shots and a penalty corner - and appeared headed toward a penalty-stroke shootout after Reichardt made a sprawling, game-saving (to that point) save on a breakaway by Deanne Mastrocola with 3:39 left in the second overtime.

On the play, however, Western was awarded its 15th penalty corner of the match - sixth in overtime. Team scoring leader Lauren Atkinson provided the hit-in on the corner,  then took a return pass soon after from Barra. Atkinson became tangled up with Reichardt while fighting for the loose ball in front of the cage when the infraction was whistled. Atkinson found a small opening between Reichardt and the left post on her ensuing game-ending penalty stroke.

After Western had the better of play in the first half - Eastern's first shot did not come until 5:33 remained in the first half - the Warriors' defense helped swing the momentum back in the hosts' favors. Starting defenders were junior Lauren DeLuca (South Windsor), sophomore Kelly Gawron (Ramsey, NJ) and freshman Jennifer Mitteness (Waterford), with sophomore Nicole Vitello (Wallingford) coming off the bench.

Barra figured in all three of Western's goals, setting up teammates for the first two.
 Mastrocola had given Western its  1-0 lead at halftime with her third goal of the season in the 26th minute and  Kim Gigante made it 2-0 1:22 into the second half.  Barra assisted on both goals, giving her a team-leading five helpers.
 
Reichardt made 13 saves for Eastern, which was outshot 22-7.  Three of her saves came on four Western shots (prior to the stroke) in the second overtime session. She stopped Mastrocola twice and Atkinson once. All four of Western's shot in the second overtime prior to the stroke followed penalty corners.

Subbing for the injured Alyssa Picariello, sophomore Courtney Hearn made three saves to gain her first win of the year.

For the fourth time in the last six matches between the teams, the match has been determined in overtime, both teams winning twice. In 2008 at Danbury, Eastern gained a 3-2 verdict on a game-winning goal 10:29 into overtime. Current senior Ali Chapman (Watertown) scored the first goal of that match but the Colonials later rallied from a 2-0 deficit to force overtime. Reichardt came off the bench to post 45 scoreless minutes to earn her first career win.

Eastern visits Worcester State University Saturday at 3 p.m. in  a Little East Conference match.

Warriors net five goals in seven minutes in non-conference win

Senior tri-captain Lyndsey Zavisza (below) visits with internet broadcaster Nick Magoulas for a post-game interview WATCH! (1:59)

MANSFIELD, Conn. -- In the first match ever between the programs, Ali Chapman (Watertown) recorded the eighth hat trick in the program's 14-year history as the Eastern Connecticut State University field hockey team snapped a seven game losing streak with an 8-0 win over Daniel Webster College Wednesday night at the Mansfield Outdoor Complex.

Above Ali Chapman (white jersey) moves the ball against Maeghan Farrelly in the second half of Wednesday's 8-0 win.

Leading 2-0 at halftime, Eastern (2-11) scored five goals in a span of seven minutes in the second half. Chapman scored both Eastern goals in the first half and added her team-leading sixth of the season in the second half, when six different players scored the six goals.

Daniel Webster (3-6) senior goalie Amy Prince made nine of her 15 saves in the first half when she kept the match scoreless for the first 21 minutes before the Warriors set a program record with six goals in one half over the final 35 minutes. The 11 Daniel Webster starters played the entire 70 minutes, with fatigue contributing to their inability to take shots (1) or defend (17 shots allowed) in the second half. 

Junior Lauren DeLuca (South Windsor), sophomore Nicole Vitello (Wallingford) and freshman Maureen Hinman (Wallingford) all recorded their first collegiate points. Hinman and Vitello each had a goal and assist and DeLuca a goal. First-year junior Hannah Collier (Watertown) was credited with her first collegiate assist when she set up Chapman's first goal of the match in the 22nd minute.

The team's 37 shots established a match record and the goal total was one shy of the program record set two years ago tomorrow in a home win over Lasell College. The eight-goal winning margin and eight-goal margin in a shutout also tie  the program record set against Stevens Tech seven years ago.

Senior goalie Danielle Reichardt (Ocean Township, NJ) made three saves to post her second career shutout.

The program's active scoring leader, Chapman boosted her four-year totals of 15 goals and 41 points. She shares fifth place all-time in career goals, shares fourth in assists and is fifth in points.

The Eagles competed in last year's ECAC New England Division III tournament and finished with a 12-5 record.

Eastern visits Keene State College in a Little East Conference match Saturday at 1:30 p.m.

Warriors overcome two-goal deficit but allow late goal in LEC loss

MANSFIELD, Conn. --  The Eastern Connecticut State University field hockey team erased a two-goal deficit in the second half but Salem State University scored the game-winner with 14 minutes left as the Warriors remained winless in the Little East Conference with a 3-2 loss Saturday at the Mansfield Outdoor Complex.

At left is Lyndsey Zavisza (white jersey), one of eight seniors honored on Seniors' Day Saturday. (Cristina Danielson photo).

Prior to the match, Eastern's eight outgoing seniors -- the largest senior class in program history -- were recognized.

In a battle of two teams looking for their first conference victory of the season, Eastern (1-11, 0-7 Little East) and Salem State (4-7, 1-6 Little East) traded goals before the Vikings ended an overall four-game losing streak with their fourth straight victory over Eastern.

Trailing 2-0, Eastern got one back 50 seconds before the end of the first half on senior Ali Chapman's (Watertown) third goal of the year when she re-directed senior Amanda Farina's (Mahopac, NY) drive to the cage.  Eight minutes into the second half, the Warriors struck for the tying goal when junior Hannah Collier (Watertown) teamed up with her hometown teammate. Collier drove a hard, high blast past Salem  sophomore keeper Michaela Boyer. Collier's shot came near the top of the circle on Chapman's hit-in on a penalty corner.

Junior Courtney Lynch netted the game-winner with 14 minutes left when she unloaded a drive on a short crossing pass from junior Erin Wilson past Eastern senior goalkeeper Danielle Reichardt (Ocean Township, NJ).

Salem appeared to be on its way to a rout after freshman Nicole Bisbee and junior Eryn Shea scored first-period goals for the Vikings. Bisbee came off the bench to make it 1-0  in the 14th minute when she controlled a sweeping pass from Shea and blasted a low shot from the right of the circle inside the left post. Junior Kristin Santanello set up the play when she won the ball outside the circle and fed Shea. Santanello and Shea worked a give-and-go which led to a two-person break for Salem with two minutes left in the first half, and Shea knocked in her fifth goal of the season on a short pass from Santanello to make it 2-0.

Salem was playing without top scorer Kaitlyn Aronian, who leads the club in goals (6) and points (14).

Eastern hosts Daniel Webster College Wednesday at 7 p.m.

Eight outgoing field hockey players working hard in last weeks

Seniors who will be honored Saturday on Seniors' Day: back row: Lyndsey Zavisza, Danielle Reichardt, Rochelle Normandin; front: Erika Malito, Chelsie Rizzo, Ali Chapman, Amanda Farina, Elise Zarcaro.

Below: Senior tri-captain Erika Malito. WATCH (2:49)  

(Interview by Amanda Palmieri)

WILLIMANTIC, Conn. -- According to at least one senior on the Eastern Connecticut State University field hockey team, substantial progress has been made over the last several years.

The progress may not be reflected on the scoreboard or in the scorebook. It may not be enough to give the program its first winning season since 2001 or enough to return the program to the Little East Conference playoffs, let alone win a first conference tournament championship or qualify for the NCAA tournament for the first time in the program's 15-year history.

But the progress may be substantial enough to satisfy eight seniors - the largest graduating senior class in program history -- who are heading into the final half of their final collegiate field hockey season.

According to one of those seniors, tri-captain Erika Malito from Killingly, the team's hard work and teamwork -- - especially this past season and off-season - is making for a rewarding final season.

Six of those seniors came in together as freshmen in the fall of 2008: Malito, Ali Chapman, Amanda Farina, Danielle Reichardt, Chelsie Rizzo and Elise Zarcaro. They were joined one year later by 2011 seniors Rochelle Normandin and Lyndsey Zavisza, who are three-year members of the program and join Malito as team captains.

At right: Erika Malito 

Malito has been pro-active in creating a positive learning and nurturing environment. Two years ago, she got many of the team members involved in playing winters in an adult league comprised of local college and high school players at the Star Hill Family Center in Tolland. This past year, she developed a Facebook page to keep all team players - especially the incoming freshmen - informed and interested over the summer as the pre-season approached.

While this year's team will likely finish under .500 for the fourth time in her career, Malito insists that the team chemistry, persistence, and work ethic is far and away the best that she's experience at Eastern.

"We work really hard," points out the Psychology major who feels that coaching field hockey at some level is in her future. "We have two-hour practices every day, we watch film to see what we need to do to improve and we try to work on that at practice."

After winning only one of 11 conference matches in 2010, the Warriors are still searching for their first LEC victory of 2011 after half of the 11-game regular-season conference schedule. It will likely take 4-5 wins in the final six conference matches to bring the team its first conference playoff berth in seven years. (The top eight teams qualify for the LEC playoffs in the 12-team league).

According to Malito, the goal from Day 1 this year - especially among the eight outgoing seniors - is to participate in the LEC tournament. But if that doesn't materialize, she knows that it will not be for a lack of trying.

Malito says that the approach to every match this year has been the same, whether the team is coming off a win or a loss or whether it had a history of losing to that particular opponent.

"Last year, someone would score against us and we'd be thinking, 'alright, we're going to lose.' But it's not like that this year. We fight until the end this year. We won't give up. We keep fighting."

To promote team unity and communication, several times during the season, each team member meets individually with head coach Christine Hutchison, in order to iron out problems, search for solutions to on or off the field problems, or to make adjustments. Malito says that Hutchison welcomes input from the players, which pulls the team closer.

Hutchison praises Malito for her role in elevating the team's play over the last several seasons.

"Erika has been a great captain because she's positive and cares about the team on and off the field. She works hard to get everyone involved and to get everyone to improve themselves in teammates ini the off-season and in practice. She pushes her teammates to reach the next level."

Regardless of whether this year's team reaches the tangible goals that it has set for itself, Malito knows that she, her fellow captains and seniors will look back upon their careers with pride.

"We have said to each other this year, that we need to play every game like it's our last game," said Malito. "We tell the underclassmen to play for the seniors because this is their last year. That's really what I say to myself. As long as I play every game like it was my last game and give it my all, that's all I can do. Our team record doesn't really matter to me. I just really want to give it my all."

Despite being outshot by wide margin, Warriors battle through one half

MANSFIELD, Conn. --  Seven-time Little East Conference tournament finalist Plymouth State University scored twice in three minutes late in the match to pull away from Eastern Connecticut State University, 4-0, Saturday afternoon at the Mansfield Outdoor Complex.

At left: In her first career start, freshman Morgan Osiecki (at right) battles Plymouth and gets help from freshman Maureen Hinman (2).

Having beaten Eastern (1-9, 0-5 Little East) all 15 previous times the teams had met, Plymouth (8-1, 4-1 Little East) dominated play but managed only one goal in the first half before making it 2-0 six minutes into the second half, and tacking on two insurance goals in a span of three minutes inside the final seven minutes of play.

With the win, Plymouth maintains a share of second place in the conference  a game behind conference leader Keene State College. Plymouth was coming off a 3-0 road loss to Keene three days ago. Plymouth and Keene are the most successful programs in LEC history, having combined for ten post-season titles. Plymouth has won three and reached the championship match a total of seven times.

Eastern senior goalkeeper Danielle Reichardt (Ocean Township, NJ) made eight of her game total of 21 saves (11 shy of her program record of 32 set in the 2011 opener) to keep the Warriors within a goal at halftime before the Panthers unloaded 24 shots in the second half, getting three past Reichardt.

Ranked  third in the LEC in total shots,  Plymouth junior forward Olivia Colborn unleashed 13 in the game, putting six on net and finishing with a goal (that made it 2-0 six minutes into the second half) and assist. Sophomore forward Jackie Morin, who entered the match sharing the team lead for points with Colborn, unloaded all seven of her shots on goal, sneaking one past Reichardt that made it 3-0 with seven minutes left.

Freshman forward Nikki  Garvey put the Panthers ahead for good with just under ten minutes gone when she took a pass from All-LEC midfielder Christine Parisi, carried 20 yards past several Eastern defenders, and beat a diving Reichardt in a 1v1 situation. Colborn took a return pass at the left post after sending in a penalty corner to make it 2-0 six minutes into the second half and Morin scored from in close on a pass from sophomore forward Lauren Carroll after initially fanning on the shot. Carroll's fourth goal of the year rounded out the scoring with four minutes left when she re-directed Colborn's drive at the left post.

Eastern senior back Lauren DeLuca (South Windsor)  played strong in front of Reichardt, diffusing numerous Plymouth scoring bids and also recording a defensive save on the goal line nine minutes into the secnd half with the score 2-0.

Plymouth outshot Eastern 40-2 and was awarded 22 of the 26 penalty corners in the match.

Eastern visits two-time defending LEC tournament champion Massachusetts Dartmouth Tuesday at 7 p.m.

They score twice in each half for 4-1 Little East Conference victory

MANSFIELD, Conn. - Senior goalkeeper Danielle Reichardt (Ocean Township, NJ) made double figure saves for the second time in three matches but could not contain the high-powered Fitchburg State University offense in Eastern Connecticut State University's 4-1 Little East Conference field hockey loss Wednesday afternoon at the Mansfield Outdoor Complex.

At right: Chelsie Rizzo moves the ball against Fitchburg Wednesday afternoon.

Sharing the conference leading in goals entering play, Fitchburg (5-4, 2-2 Little East) got a goal and assist from All-LEC forwards LEC Megan Jacobs and  Jamie Kelley to defeat Eastern (1-8, 0-4 Little East) for the fourth straight season.

A returning first-team All-LEC performer and current conference scoring leader, Jacobs gave Fitchburg the lead less than seven minutes into play with her 13th goal of the year and later had her drive re-directed by up senior forward Kaylee Bergeron past Reichardt  early in the second half to make it 3-0.

Averaging just under ten saves per match this year, Reichardt made seven saves in each half. She kept the Warriors within striking distance in the first half, when the Falcons mustered 14 shots and amassed eight penalty corners. Eastern, a loser of four straight, was not able to put a shot on Fitchburg senior goalkeeper Taylor Begin until the 19th minute of play.

Jacobs unloaded nine of Fitchburg's 24 shots, putting five on net and getting the first one past Reichardt.  Kelley and Bergeron combined for ten shots, all ending up on cage. Reichardt was able to kick out eight of those shots.

Eastern avoided the shutout when senior forward Chelsie Rizzo (Bethel)  connected on her team-leading third goal of the season with a strike from the left post on her only shot inside the final five minutes.

Eastern hosts Plymouth State University Saturday at 1 p.m. The Panthers were scheduled to visit  Keene State College Wednesday at 6 p.m. Plymouth and Keene entered the match sharing first place in the conference, both at 3-0.