Ravens host Stonehill in home opener on Saturday

NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. (September 16, 2014) – Under siege for much of the second half, freshman goalkeeper Meaghan Williams (Salem, N.H.) finished with 10 saves on Tuesday afternoon, but still suffered the loss as the Franklin Pierce University field hockey team dropped a 3-0 decision to No. 8 nationally ranked Merrimack in the Northeast-10 Conference opener for both sides at Martone-Mejail Field. Freshman forward Rylee Hammond scored twice, including the game-winner, in the win for Merrimack.

With the loss, Franklin Pierce falls to 2-1 (0-1 Northeast-10), while Merrimack improves to 2-1 (1-0 Northeast-10).

The two teams played fairly even in the first half, as each side attempted four shots and Merrimack held a 4-3 edge in penalty corners. Despite several periods of sustained pressure, Franklin Pierce was unable to force Merrimack junior goalkeeper Madison Davis to make a save in the first 35 minutes. The Ravens' defense was impressive as well, as only two of Merrimack's four shot attempts wound up on target.

One of the two would become the first half's only goal in the 13th minute, in the aftermath of back-to-back penalty corners for the Warriors. The ball was sent into the circle from the left-wing side and junior midfielder Katrina Squeri got her stick to the ball in front of the left post. Squeri niftily deflected the ball into the goalmouth, where Hammond was waiting to push it across the line for her first collegiate goal.

Merrimack turned up the pressure in the second half and wore down the Franklin Pierce midfield and defense, to the tune of advantages of 26-4 in shot attempts and 10-2 in shots on goal over the final 35 minutes. While the Ravens' backline did its best to limit the damage, the Warriors were ultimately able to put away insurance markers in the 49th and 53rd minutes to create the 3-0 final.

In the 49th minute, Squeri had the ball near the top of the circle on the left side and sent it towards the cage. Hammond was stationed between Squeri and the goal, and was able to redirect the ball through Williams and into the net for her second goal of the afternoon. In the 53rd minute, freshman forward Taylor Simpson beat Williams from the right-wing side, but hit the right post. Junior forward Sydney Bowker followed up and put away the rebound for her first goal of the campaign.

Williams finished with 10 saves against 14 shots on goal, but took the loss (2-1) in net for Franklin Pierce, while junior back Natalia Bachelder (South Berwick, Maine) picked up her first defensive save of the season, the third of her career, along the way. At the other end, Davis picked up the win (2-1) by stopping one of the two shots on her cage, while sophomore back Sarah Sparks made a defensive save to stop the other one.

The Ravens return to the field on Saturday, Sept. 20, when they hold their home opener against Stonehill in a non-conference contest. Game time is set for 1 p.m. at Sodexo Field in Rindge.

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).