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No. 10 Field Hockey Plays Catch-Up, Can’t Quite Track Down Saint Anselm in 3-2 Loss

No. 10 Field Hockey Plays Catch-Up, Can’t Quite Track Down Saint Anselm in 3-2 Loss

Smith scores first career goal in defeat

MANCHESTER, N.H. (September 15, 2015) – The finish line kept moving on Tuesday night for the No. 10 nationally ranked Franklin Pierce University field hockey team, as the Ravens drew even at 1-1, then fell behind 2-1, drew even at 2-2, then fell behind 3-2 in a non-conference road game at Saint Anselm. Sophomore back Erin Collins had the game-winning goal in the 58th minute, as the Hawks dealt Franklin Pierce its first loss of the season under the lights at Grappone Stadium.

With the loss, Franklin Pierce falls to 4-1 (0-0 Northeast-10), while Saint Anselm improves to 3-0 (0-0 Northeast-10).

Trailing 1-0 at the halftime break, Franklin Pierce needed just 4:58 to draw level at 1-1 at the start of the second half. The Ravens were awarded a penalty stroke in the 40th minute, which junior back Shannon O'Leary (Florence, Mass.) salted away for her first goal of the season.

Saint Anselm would respond less than four minutes later, in the 44th minute, on the second of the season for senior midfielder Taylor Coons. The play came through the right side of the circle, with sophomore back Katie Neyland sending the ball towards the cage. Coons was in the path of the ball and was able to redirect it inside the right post to reclaim the lead.

Again Franklin Pierce drew even, this time in the 51st minute, to level the game at 2-2. The ball ultimately came to sophomore forward Erin Smith (Templeton, Mass.) at the top of the circle. She took a long shot from there, which deflected off the defense and into the cage for Smith's first collegiate goal.

The tie was short-lived again however, as Saint Anselm went ahead for good 6:29 later, in the 58th minute, on Collins' first of the season. Collins put the ball in play on a penalty corner, which led to a shot from sophomore forward Jamie McNamara. Smith nearly played hero at both ends of the field for the Ravens, as she picked up a defensive save on the shot, momentarily keeping the ball out of the net. In the meantime however, Collins had made her way to the left post as well, and she was able to stuff home the rebound for the eventual game-winning goal.

Earlier in the day, the lone first-half goal came for Saint Anselm, which took the 1-0 lead into the intermission. Sophomore forward Emma Kincaid scored her second goal of the season on a 21st-minute penalty stroke.

Saint Anselm enjoyed advantages of 15-9 in shot attempts and 10-4 in shots on goal on the night. Franklin Pierce held an 11-10 edge in penalty corners.

Freshman goalkeeper Samantha Geils (Saratoga Springs, N.Y.) played her second straight game in front of the cage for Franklin Pierce. She made six saves against 10 shots on goal while taking the loss (1-1). Smith added the aforementioned defensive save along the way for the Ravens.

At the other end of the field, junior goalkeeper Katherine Sears (3-0) stopped two of the four shots on her cage for Saint Anselm.

The Ravens return to the field on Saturday, Sept. 19, when they travel to Assumption for a non-conference contest. Game time is set for 4 p.m. at Mutli-Sport Stadium in Worcester, Mass.

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 can do so at the Department of Athletics' online store (http://athletics.franklinpierce.edu/store).