NEW HAVEN, Conn. (September 7, 2016) – A pair of second-half goals against turned a 1-0 halftime lead into a 2-1 loss for the Franklin Pierce University field hockey team on the road at Southern Connecticut State on Wednesday night. Senior midfielder Zoe Fanolis scored the game-winning goal for SCSU with just 2:27 to play in regulation in the non-conference affair at Jess Dow Field.

With the loss, Franklin Pierce falls to 2-1, while SCSU improves to 1-2. It was the first win for SCSU over the Ravens since Sept. 22, 2012, snapping a string of six straight Franklin Pierce wins in the series between the two sides. The two teams will meet later in the year, for their Northeast-10 Conference contest, on Oct. 8 at Franklin Pierce.

Franklin Pierce struck for the only goal of the first half on a penalty-corner play in the ninth minute. Junior forward Carly Canavan (Kingston, N.Y.) injected the ball to the top of the circle for senior midfielder Andrea Fahey (Hudson, Mass.) who stopped the ball and dished it off to the left-wing side. Fahey's pass went to fellow senior midfielder Kenady Kelly (Plymouth, N.H.), who wound and fired after receiving the ball. Her shot went untouched through traffic and beat SCSU freshman goalkeeper Brianna Craft for Kelly's second goal of the season.

Franklin Pierce would ultimately control the game statistically in the second half, to the tune of a 13-6 advantage in shot attempts. However, shots on goal stood at 5-5 in the second stanza, with SCSU collecting the better of the chances. The Owls had five second-half penalty corners -- after earning just two in the first half -- with the fifth and final opportunity resulting in the game-winning goal.

SCSU struck for the equalizer just 5:34 into the second half, as the Ravens defense failed to clear a rebound on the right-wing side of the circle. Junior back Emma Perry was the beneficiary of the breakdown, as she collected the ball on the right side and put home a quick shot for her first collegiate goal.

Franklin Pierce had its best opportunity to break the deadlock in the 50th minute, when an SCSU defensive breakdown resulted in a partial 2-on-0 rush from the top of the circle in for the Ravens. As the Ravens mishandled the ball in the circle, SCSU freshman goalkeeper Brianna Craft came off her line to stymie the opportunity and clear the ball from danger.

The game remained without another goal until the Owls struck for the game-winner in the 68th minute, with just 2:27 to play, on a penalty corner play. Senior midfielder Alicia Morgan injected the ball to senior forward Bailey McGinnis at the top of the circle. McGinnis started to her right, then sent the ball back to her left for a waiting Fanolis, who flipped a high shot toward the cage. Franklin Pierce junior goalkeeper Meaghan Williams (Salem, N.H.) got a piece of the shot, but not enough of it, as the ball deflected into the upper reaches of the cage for Fanolis' second goal of the season.

Williams (2-1) finished with five saves against seven shots on goal in net for Franklin Pierce, while junior backs Lauren Grimard (Turners Falls, Mass.) and Erin Smith (Templeton, Mass.) each had defensive saves. The first SCSU goal snapped Williams' personal shutout streak -- which dated back to last season -- at 186:51. At the other end of the field, Craft (1-2) collected nine saves against 10 shots on goal in front of the goal for SCSU.

The Ravens return to the field on Sunday, Sept. 11, when they return home to host Saint Anselm 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 can do so at the Department of Athletics' online store (http://athletics.franklinpierce.edu/store).