Daday scores with 38 seconds left to avoid shutout

Boxscore

NEW HAVEN, Conn. (August 28, 2007) – The Franklin Pierce University field hockey team dropped its 2007 season opener to Southern Connecticut State, 3-1, on Tuesday afternoon at Jess Dow Field. Three different Owls scored for the home team, including two goals in the first half that provided the winning margin in the first matchup of the season for both teams.

Southern Connecticut scored on its first shot on goal of the game, which came off a penalty corner at the 19:19 mark of the first half. Kate Gedney (Westbrook, Conn./New Hampshire) opened the scoring from the top of the circle, with assists going to Grace Martha (Cheshire, Conn./Cheshire) and Kim Merritt (Norwalk, Conn./Norwalk). SCSU’s Ann Berry (Belfast, Maine/Belfast Area) scored the eventual game-winner less than 14 minutes later, taking a pass from Martha and beating Franklin Pierce goaltender Stephanie Howard (Norwalk, Conn./Norwalk) from just outside the circle.

The Ravens continued fighting, however, and senior forward Alison Daday (Brewster, N.Y./Brewster) helped to avoid the shutout by scoring with 38 seconds remaining in the second half. She recorded the unassisted tally, her third career score, after stickhandling around the fallen Owl goalkeeper.

For the afternoon, Southern Connecticut held an 11-6 shot advantage and earned 10 penalty corners to Franklin Pierce’s four. Howard played well for the Ravens, making three saves in her first collegiate game in net. Lauren Zarrella (Morris, Conn./Wamogo) earned the victory for the Owls, also making three saves in goal.

Franklin Pierce (0-1, 0-0 NE-10) begins conference play on Saturday when the Ravens travel to Worcester, Mass. to take on Assumption College beginning at 1 p.m. Southern Connecticut State (1-0, 0-0 NE-10) next takes the turf on Thursday with a non-conference matchup with American International at Jess Dow Field.