Milford's Ashley Wilder had a goal for Rivier in a tough last minute loss at Fitchburg State on Tuesday. (Courtesy photo by Kyle Prudhomme/Rivier Athletics)

FITCHBURG, Mass. – The Rivier University women’s lacrosse team fell one goal short on Tuesday evening in a 14-13 non-conference loss to Fitchburg St. at Elliot Field.

Jessica St. George would put the game on her stick for Fitchburg St. as she scored on a feed from Noelle Kennedy with just over a minute to play to clinch the Falcons’ fifth victory of the season.

The Raiders fell to 3-4 with the loss while the Falcons improved to 5-2.

Trailing by two early in the second quarter, Fitchburg St.’s Autumn Tibbetts took advantage of a player-up situation to begin a 5-0 run for the hosts over the final 10:24 of the half. The Falcons took a 9-6 lead into the break.

Rivier tied things up with three consecutive goals of its own as Sofia Cebrero, Ashley Wilder, and Sarah Lachance each scored in the opening 4:55 of the third to make it 9-9. The Falcons scored twice to regain a two-goal lead, but Lachance’s second tally of the frame with 1:41 left made it an 11-10 ball game.

The Raiders tied it on Cebrero’s third goal of the contest with 13 minutes to play. After falling into a two-goal deficit yet again, a pair of Lachance goals make it 13-all with 2:39 remaining.

Lachance finished with eleven points as she recorded eight goals and three assists. Briana Paxson had four draw controls along with four ground balls in the setback. Lindsey Kruger made 10 saves in net.

Rivier went 3-of-5 on free position shots while totaling 26 ground balls to the Falcons’ 24.

The Raiders will return home for a Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) contest against New England Col. on Saturday, March 30. The opening draw is set for noon at Merrill Field for the team’s Morgan’s Message Game.

BASEBALL

ALBERTUS MAGNUS 12, RIVIER 11 (10 innings)

The Raiders rallied to force extra innings but ultimately fell to Albertus Magnus, 11-10, in its Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) opener on Tuesday afternoon at Piurek Field.

Albertus’ Tyler Czeremcha put an end to things in the 10th as his single to right pushed Anthony Abate across the plate for the win.

The Raiders dropped to 3-11 (0-1 GNAC) while the Falcons improved to 3-7 (2-0 GNAC).

A four-run top of the seventh for the Raiders made it 9-8 in favor of the hosts. In the next inning, Luis Tejada blasted a solo homer to left to tie things at 9-9.

Rivier trailed by two going into the ninth after a two-RBI single from Czeremcha made it 11-9. The Raiders would score twice to extend the ballgame.

Alex Gallicano went 3-for-4 with an RBI and a walk in the contest. Patrick Young pitched 1.1 innings of shutout ball in his relief appearance.

Rivier is set to return to GNAC play today against Dean in a rescheduled contest. First pitch from the Longley Athletic Complex in Franklin, Mass. is set for 3:30 p.m.

MEN’S LACROSSE

GAGNON GNAC GOALIE OF WEEK

On home turf, Sawyer Gagnon guided the Raiders to a 12-6 win over Hartwick last Wednesday to help him collect his second Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) Goalkeeper of the Week honoree of the 2024 season.

In the first all-time meeting with the Hawks and the Raiders, Gagnon had an outstanding 17-save performance, facing 23 shots.

The Raiders earned another win last night versus Dean in GNAC play at Merrill Field putting the Raiders at 4-4 on the season and 2-1 in the GNAC. Gagnon yet again made a case for GNAC honors, recording 15 saves in the victory.

Riv will hit the road to take on the Monks of Saint Joseph’s (Me.) on Thursday with a 4 p.m. face-off.

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