FITCHBURG, Mass. - Senior Ashley Gutowski (Conway, N.H.) and junior Sarah Smith (Lexington, Mass.) scored two goals apiece Saturday morning as the Plymouth State University field hockey team registered a 5-0 Little East Conference victory over Fitchburg State College at Elliot Field.

            Gutowski also collected an assist on the afternoon, while sophomore Kristina Conroy (Wakefield, Mass.) chipped in with one score and freshman Lauren Bergeron (New Hampton, N.H./Newfound) notched one assist. PSU snapped a three-game losing skid and evened its record at 6-6 overall while improving to 5-3 in LEC play.  Fitchburg State dropped to the .500 mark at 7-7 overall and 4-4 in conference games.

            Conroy opened the scoring for PSU just 5:37 into the contest with her fifth goal of the season.  Gutowski made it 2-0 with a penalty stroke goal six minutes later, and Smith tallied her first of the game for the Panthers midway through the opening half to make it 3-0. Gutowski's second of the game and ninth of the season gave the visitors a 4-0 lead at the break.

            Smith rounded out the scoring for PSU with about 11 minutes remaining in the second half with her team-leading 10th goal of the season.

            Freshman Elyse Sedgley (Hopkinton, N.H.) recorded her fourth shutout of the season for the Panthers, making three saves in each half. Junior Melinda Rozumek (Salem, N.H.) helped preserve the whitewash by making a defensive player save along the goal line behind Sedgley.

            Plymouth State out-shot Fitchburg State 19-14 in the match, with a 16-2 advantage in corner shots. Sophomore goalkeeper Taylor Van Ahnen (Seekonk, Mass.) led the Falcons defensively, totaling 12 saves.

            Fitchburg State will be in action again on Wednesday at Westfield State College at 7 p.m. Plymouth State will host Thomas College on Sunday at 12:30 p.m. 

(Courtesy of Fitchburg State Sports Information) 

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