Zahensky makes 11 saves

RINDGE, N.H. (September 14, 2013) – Senior midfielder Alesia Gleason (Harwich, Mass.) scored the first goal of her career on a second-half penalty stroke on Saturday afternoon, but the Franklin Pierce University field hockey team suffered a 6-1 defeat at the hands of Assumption in non-conference play at Sodexo Field. Sophomore midfielder Kiley Colucci scored twice, including the game-winner, and added an assist to post a five-point day for Assumption in the victory.

With the loss, Franklin Pierce falls to 1-2 (0-0 Northeast-10), while Assumption improves to 2-2 (0-0 Northeast-10). The two teams will meet for their Northeast-10 Conference contest on Oct. 26 in Worcester, Mass.

Colucci scored the first half's only two goals, as she struck for her second and third scores of the season just 8:47 apart. The first came 20:45 into the stanza, when a penalty corner set-play sent the ball to sophomore midfielder Sarah Frahm at the top of the circle. Frahm dished the ball off to her left to Colucci, who drove the shot through traffic and inside the left post to open the scoring. Later, a similar play set Colucci up again in the 30th minute. Frahm again dished the ball to the left side from the top of the circle and Colucci again drove the ball from there. This time, the defense got a piece of the shot, but not enough to keep it out of the cage as the Greyhounds took a 2-0 lead.

The Franklin Pierce defense faced a barrage of shots in the first half, as Assumption enjoyed a 7-1 advantage in penalty corners in the frame, which led to a 13-1 edge in shot attempts, including 8-1 in shots on goal. Both of Assumption's first-half goals came as a result of penalty corners, and when all was said and done, four of the team's six goals on the afternoon came via corner plays.

Assumption effectively put the game out of reach with two goals in the first two minutes of the second half to push the lead to 4-0. Just 32 seconds into the stanza, the Greyhounds generated a flurry of activity in front of the Franklin Pierce cage, leading to a scramble in the goalmouth. Senior midfielder Allie Richard was the first to track down the ball, and she put it away for her first goal of the season. Only 88 seconds later, Assumption struck for yet another penalty-corner goal, as the initial shot from the top of the circle was knocked down by the defense. The ball fell near the penalty spot, and Colucci tracked it down there, spun to her backhand to create a shooting lane and sent the ball towards the cage. Sophomore midfielder Allison Juneau, who had injected the ball to start the corner, had made her way to the area in front of the left post and deflected the ball home for her first goal of the season.

Franklin Pierce got on the board in the 42nd minute, as a result of the play off its only penalty corner of the second half. The corner proved to be the biggest offensive threat of the day for the Ravens, who generated three shots on goal, and a fourth which was knocked down by the defense. As the defense appeared to fall on the ball in front of the goal line, the official nearest the play blew her whistle and signaled for a penalty stroke. As the whistle blew, senior forward Chanelle Letarte (Lunenburg, Mass.) dug out the ball and banged it to the backboard, for what would have been a goal, expect for the whistle. The official put her hands to her head in exasperation, as she realized the call would take the goal off the board. The distress proved unnecessary, as Gleason stood over the penalty stroke and flipped it above the goalkeeper's reach and inside the left post for the first goal of her career.

Assumption answered 2:10 later to reclaim the four-goal lead at 5-1. Again the Greyhounds scored as a result of hectic play inside the circle. This time, it was freshman forward Meghan Sullivan who located the loose ball and flipped a quick shot towards the cage. Franklin Pierce freshman goalkeeper Amy Zahensky (Bow, N.H.) got a piece of the shot, but the ball got behind her and trickled over the goal line for Sullivan's third score of the campaign. Junior forward Paige Anderson capped the scoring with 5:40 to play with a drive off a penalty corner to create the 6-1 final. Frahm recorded her third assist of the day on Anderson's first goal of the year.

Zahensky faced 17 shots on goal in the game and came away with a season-best 11 saves while taking the loss (1-2). Senior back Jess Rogers (Uxbridge, Mass.) picked up a first-half defensive save as well, the fourth of her career. At the other end of the field, Assumption senior Heather Philbrick made four saves against five shots on goal to pick up the win (2-1).

The Ravens return to the field on Tuesday, Sept. 17, when they travel to Saint Anselm for a non-conference contest. Game time is set for 4 p.m. at Grappone Stadium in Manchester, N.H. Franklin Pierce next plays at home on Thursday, Sept. 19 against Saint Michael's at 4 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). Fans wishing to purchase Franklin Pierce field hockey apparel can do so at the Department of Athletics' online store (http://athletics.franklinpierce.edu/store).