Ravens host Saint Anselm, LIU Post to round out season

WALTHAM, Mass. (October 24, 2015) – After struggling through the first half, the Franklin Pierce University field hockey team was able to generate pressure throughout the second half, particularly in the final 20 minutes on Saturday. Still, the only goal of the game would come from Bentley freshman forward Rachel Crowley, with just 1:47 to play in regulation, as the Ravens suffered a 1-0 loss in Northeast-10 Conference play at Bentley University Turf Field.

With the loss, Franklin Pierce falls to 9-7 (4-6 Northeast-10), while Bentley improves to 8-7 (6-4 Northeast-10). With the loss, Franklin Pierce has been eliminated from postseason contention.

Bentley controlled the run of play for much of the first half on Saturday in Waltham. Though the Falcons were unable to capitalize, they enjoyed advantages of 11-2 in shot attempts, 6-1 in shots on goal and 5-0 in penalty corners.

The Ravens flipped the script in the second half, particularly as the stanza wore on. In the second frame, Franklin Pierce posted margins of 8-4 in shot attempts, 6-3 in shots on goal and 4-1 in penalty corners.

The only goal of the game would come in the 69th minute, as overtime was beginning to look like a strong possibility. After the Ravens failed to get the ball across midfield while clearing the defensive end, the ball ended up on the left side with Crowley, who had a head of steam on her way into the circle. Crowley beat the last defender on her side of the field and was left one-on-one against Franklin Pierce sophomore goalkeeper Meaghan Williams (Salem, N.H.). Crowley took her shot from approximately eight yards out, beat Williams and put it inside the right post for her fourth goal of the season.

Williams (8-6) finished with seven saves against eight shots on goal for Franklin Pierce, while sophomore forward Erin Smith (Templeton, Mass.) added a defensive save. For Bentley, junior Evelyn Schaedel (5-3) stopped all six shots on her cage to notch her first shutout of the season, while senior back Molly Rowe added a defensive save.

The Ravens return to the field on Tuesday, Oct. 27, when they return home to host Saint Anselm in a Northeast-10 Conference contest. Game time is set for 4 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 can do so at the Department of Athletics' online store (http://athletics.franklinpierce.edu/store).