Baillargeon nets pair; Levins scores twice, adds assist

RINDGE, N.H. (September 8, 2010) – Senior forward Jordan Baillargeon (Westfield, Mass.) and junior forward Tia Levins (Manchester, Maine) each scored twice on Wednesday evening, as the Franklin Pierce University field hockey team scored four goals in a span of less than 17 minutes on their way to a 4-0 victory over Merrimack in the Northeast-10 Conference opener for both teams at Sodexo Field. Junior goalkeeper Brittany Nyzio (Attleboro, Mass.) made three saves to earn the shutout for Franklin Pierce.

With the victory, Franklin Pierce improves to 1-1 (1-0 Northeast-10), while Merrimack falls to 0-3 (0-1 Northeast-10).

The Ravens opened their Northeast-10 campaign with a spark, as they struck for three goals in the opening half. Just past the 23-minute mark, Baillargeon found the ball amidst a scramble to the left of the cage and punched home her first goal of the season. Baillargeon would strike again, 4:01 later, when Levins found her at the left post to make it 2-0.

Levins would pick up a goal of her own with just 1:12 to play before the intermission off a 2-on-1 down low. Senior forward Ashley Moirano (Vero Beach, Fla.) drew out the keeper and sent a pass into the middle to Levins, who hammered it into an empty cage for her second goal of the season.

Levins would strike again 4:37 into the second half to create the 4-0 final. Baillargeon took the original shot, which was stopped, but the rebound fell to Levins at the left post and she tucked it behind the keeper and into the cage.

Nyzio stopped all three shots against her cage to pick up the win (1-1) and post her second career shutout. Sophomore Kerri Bergquist made five saves against nine shots and took the loss (0-3) between the pipes for Merrimack.

Franklin Pierce posted a 14-9 advantage in shots over the course of the game. Merrimack racked up 13 penalty corners to just three for the Ravens, but the Warriors failed to capitalize on any of them.

The Ravens return to the field on Saturday, Sept. 12, when they remain home to host C.W. Post in a non-conference contest. Game time is set for noon at Sodexo Field.

For more information on Franklin Pierce Athletics, please visit the official website of Franklin Pierce Athletics (http://athletics.franklinpierce.edu). Two other ways to follow the Ravens are through the Department of Athletics' official YouTube channel (http://www.youtube.com/franklinpiercesports) and its Twitter feed (http://twitter.com/FPUathletics).