Jaksina, Baillargeon score for Ravens

RINDGE, N.H. (October 23, 2010) – Junior midfielder Kim Jaksina (Townsend, Mass.) and senior midfielder Jordan Baillargeon (Townsend, Mass.) each scored on Saturday afternoon, but the Franklin Pierce University field hockey team was defeated, 4-2, by Adelphi in Northeast-10 Conference play at Sodexo Field. Junior forward Julianne Gerbino scored a pair of goals, including the game-winner, for Adelphi.

With the loss, Franklin Pierce falls to 6-8 (3-3 Northeast-10), while Adelphi improves to 8-5 (3-1 Northeast-10).

Adelphi got the scoring started early, when sophomore forward Cassie Cabral finished off her third of the season just 3:35 into the game. She was at the left post and put away a feed from the right side by junior forward Jeanette Heimerle. The game would go nearly 18 minutes without another score before Adelphi made it 2-0 and Heimerle picked up her second assist of the afternoon. She found the ball amidst a scramble out front and slipped it to Gerbino, who put away her sixth goal of the season.

Franklin Pierce would pull within a goal before the first half came to a close. Jaksina had the ball and found space down the middle of the field. After she stepped into the circle, she wound and fired a shot which found the top-right portion of the cage for her eighth goal of the season.

Less than seven minutes after the halftime break, the Ravens knotted the game at 2-2 when junior forward Danielle Dolan (West Brookfield, Mass.) had the ball along the end-line to the right of the cage. She fed a pass through the slot to Baillargeon who banged home her third goal of the season.

However, Adelphi would answer less than four minutes later with the eventual game-winning goal. This time, Gerbino did the work herself in a scramble out front and finished off her second goal of the game. The Panthers would add an insurance goal by sophomore midfielder Emilee Rahner, off an assist from freshman midfielder Jamie Ackerman, in the final five minutes to create the 4-2 final. The goal was Rahner's first of the season.

Junior goalkeeper Rachel Baxter (Cumberland, R.I.) started in goal for the Ravens and did not factor in the decision, though she did not make a save on either shot sent her way. Fellow junior Brittany Nyzio (Attleboro, Mass.) came in after the second Adelphi goal and made nine saves against 11 shots the rest of the way, but was saddled with the loss (5-8). Sophomore Kristine Puzio made 13 saves against 15 shots to pick up the win (1-2) between the pipes for Adelphi.

Both teams were active offensively, particularly in the second half, as Franklin Pierce finished with an 18-16 advantage in shots, including a 15-13 edge in shots on goal. The Ravens were awarded nine penalty corners, compared to eight for Adelphi.

The Ravens return to the field on Saturday, Oct. 30, when they travel to Massachusetts Lowell for a Northeast-10 Conference contest. Game time is set for 1 p.m. at Cushing Field in Lowell, Mass. Franklin Pierce next plays at home on Saturday, Nov. 6 against Saint Michael's at 1 p.m.

For more information on Franklin Pierce Athletics, please visit the official website of Franklin Pierce Athletics (http://athletics.franklinpierce.edu). Also be sure to follow the Ravens through the Department of Athletics' official Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/FranklinPierceRavens), its YouTube channel (http://www.youtube.com/franklinpiercesports) and its Twitter feed (http://twitter.com/FPUathletics).