O'Leary adds penalty stroke goal

NEW HAVEN, Conn. (October 10, 2015) – After it had taken the Franklin Pierce University field hockey team 21:32 to erase a 2-0 halftime deficit, it took sophomore forward Carly Canavan (Kingston, N.Y.) just 5:55 into overtime to net the game-winning goal on Saturday evening. Canavan's second goal of the night -- her sixth career multiple-goal game and third of the season -- gave the Ravens a 3-2, come-from-behind win on the road at Southern Connecticut State in Northeast-10 Conference play at Jess Dow Field.

With the win, Franklin Pierce improves to 7-5 (3-4 Northeast-10), while Southern Connecticut State falls to 4-8 (1-4 Northeast-10).

Despite facing an 8-5 deficit in shot attempts, it would be SCSU which led 2-0 at halftime on Saturday, after a first-half double from junior midfielder Kristi Montemurro. In the 15th minute, Montemurro opened the scoring with her first goal of the season, as she finished things off with a tap in at the left post.

Montemurro's second goal of the evening would come in the 32nd minute. Junior forward Bailey McGinnis took the initial shot on the play and beat Franklin Pierce sophomore goalkeeper Meaghan Williams (Salem, N.H.), but junior back Shannon O'Leary (Florence, Mass.) came up with the defensive save to keep the ball out of the cage momentarily. However, Montemurro was on the scene to put away the rebound and double the SCSU lead to 2-0.

Firsthand accounts from New Haven suggested the Owls pulled into a defensive shell in the second half, attempting to win the game with the lead they had build in the first 35 minutes. The statistical evidence in the box score backs up such an assertion, as the Ravens were able to pile up advantages of 18-2 in shot attempts and 13-2 in shots on goal in the second half while erasing the deficit. Over the course of the full game, Franklin Pierce enjoyed advantages of 31-7 in shot attempts, 22-6 in shots on goal and 10-5 in penalty corners.

The Ravens began the comeback just 4:54 into the second period, when Canavan put home her first goal of the night, her team-leading eighth of the season. Sophomore forward Erin Smith (Templeton, Mass.) sent the ball towards the cage on a corner play in the 40th minute, and Canavan was able to deflect the shot over the shoulder of SCSU senior goalkeeper Audrey Dolloff.

Franklin Pierce would later tie things up in the 57th minute, as the team was awarded a penalty stroke. O'Leary took the stroke and salted it away for her second goal of the season, with both scores coming via penalty stroke. She is 2-for-2 on the season and 3-for-5 in her career from the penalty spot.

After the final 13:28 of regulation went without another goal, Franklin Pierce recorded the only five shot attempts of overtime. The Ravens were rewarded for their persistence in the 76th minute, when junior forward Andrea Fahey (Hudson, Mass.) sent a shot towards the goal from the left side of the circle. Again, Canavan scored on a deflection, this time to secure the 3-2 victory with the overtime winner.

Canavan -- who scored 10 times a year ago -- scored the 18th and 19th goals of her career on Saturday, in just her 30th collegiate game. On Saturday, she moved up to fifth on the program's all-time career goal-scoring list, passing both Danielle Dolan '12 and Chanelle Letarte '14, who finished with 18 career goals each. With six games still remaining in her sophomore season, Canavan is only 15 behind the program record of 34 career goals, set by Tia Levins '12.

Williams (6-4) finished with three saves against five shots on goal to pick up the win for Franklin Pierce on Saturday, while O'Leary and sophomore back Lauren Grimard (Turners Falls, Mass.) chipped in defensive saves. Dolloff (4-8) piled up 16 saves against 19 shots on goal in the losing effort for SCSU, while junior midfielder Alicia Morgan and junior back Meghan Davis added a defensive save each for the Owls.

The Ravens return to the field on Monday, Oct. 12, when they return home to host St. Thomas Aquinas in a non-conference contest. Game time is set for noon 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 can do so at the Department of Athletics' online store (http://athletics.franklinpierce.edu/store).