Canavan nets lone Ravens goal

RINDGE, N.H. (September 25, 2015) – The No. 10 nationally ranked Franklin Pierce University field hockey team generated three penalty corners and three shots on goal over the final 15 minutes on Friday afternoon, but could never find the equalizer at the south end of Sodexo Field. Instead, a 34th-minute goal by sophomore forward Rylie Hammond stood as the game-winner for Merrimack, which picked up a 2-1 road win in Northeast-10 Conference play.

With the win, Franklin Pierce falls to 5-3 (1-2 Northeast-10), while Merrimack improves to 5-2 (2-1 Northeast-10).

All of the game's scoring came in the first half on Friday afternoon, beginning in the 19th minute. Merrimack opened the scoring on the fifth of its 18 penalty corners on the day, as the Warriors consistently applied pressure over swaths the 70 minutes. On the corner play, Merrimack set up a drive for sophomore forward Taylor Simpson from the top of the circle on the right side. The shot was deflected twice en route: first by Hammond in the middle of the circle, and finally by freshman midfielder Mary McNeil, who finished her fifth of the season at the left post.

Franklin Pierce struck back on a corner of its own in the 32nd minute, on the team-leading sixth of the season for sophomore forward Carly Canavan (Kingston, N.Y.). Ultimately, after the corner play had come to the top of the circle, it was fed into the middle for senior forward Molly Burke (West Bridgewater, Mass.). Burke swiped the ball over to the area in front of the right post, where Canavan was able to knock it into the cage.

The 1-1 tie was short-lived however, as Merrimack reclaimed the 2-1 lead just 1:56 later, in the 34th minute. The play developed quickly on a rush into the circle, with McNeil possessing the ball on the right side. As the defense approach, McNeil fed the ball into the goalmouth, which left Hammond with only the keeper to beat. Hammond shot immediately, and sophomore goalkeeper Meaghan Williams (Salem, N.H.) was able to get a piece of the shot, but not enough to keep it from becoming Hammond's fourth goal of the campaign.

Though Franklin Pierce surrendered 11 penalty corners in the second half, the Ravens were able to sustain pressure in the game's closing 15 minutes, looking to tie things up. Merrimack senior goalkeeper Madison Davis made saves on both senior forward Vanessa LeBlanc (Salisbury, Mass.) and Canavan after a rush into the circle in the 62nd minute. Freshman midfielder Raegan Moulton (Baldwinville, Mass.) uncorked a pair of shots off an ensuing penalty corner, but could put neither on target. Ultimately, Davis' final save came on junior midfielder Kenady Kelly (Plymouth, N.H.) in the 66th minute to preserve the 2-1 victory for the Warriors.

Williams (4-2) collected five saves against seven shots on goal in front of the cage for Franklin Pierce. Meanwhile, Davis (4-1) picked up six saves against seven shots on goal to earn the win for Merrimack.

The Ravens return to the field on Tuesday, Sept. 29, when they travel to Saint Michael's for a Northeast-10 Conference contest. Game time is set for 3:30 p.m. at Duffy Field in Colchester, Vt.

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).