Goal in Final Minute Sinks Field Hockey in 1-0 Loss to Assumption

RINDGE, N.H. (September 17, 2016) – It had been a defensive struggle all afternoon on Saturday at Sodexo Field. The only offense to speak of in the Northeast-10 Conference affair had been a disallowed goal in the 68th minute. The game had progressed to its final minute, when junior forward Allison Sheahan put away a loose ball with just 47 seconds to play to break the deadlock, as Assumption posted a 1-0 win over the Franklin Pierce University field hockey team.

With the loss, Franklin Pierce falls to 2-3 (0-1 Northeast-10), while Assumption improves to 3-2 (1-0 Northeast-10). It was the seventh straight win for Assumption in the all-time series between the two teams.

After an extremely uneventful first half, both sides were able to ratchet up the offensive pressure in the second half. Assumption would have arguably the day's two best scoring chances while the game remained scoreless. Early in the second half, the Greyhounds were able to engineer a 2-on-0 break from the midfield in, but they were stymied by junior goalkeeper Meaghan Williams (Salem, N.H.), who came off her line to smother the opportunity.

Later, in the 68th minute, with time winding down, Assumption appeared to break the scoreless tie on a penalty-corner play. Off the injection, senior midfielder Meagan Eccleston let fly with a shot from the top of the circle, which wound up in the back of the cage. After the initial call on the field ruled it a good goal, the officials huddled together, ultimately discerning the ball had not been touched by the offense inside the circle, which meant the apparent goal would not count.

The call would wind up being of no matter to the Greyhounds, who would take the lead for real with just 47 seconds to play in regulation. Junior back Mariah Peck had the initial shot on the play, from high in the circle, with Williams getting her pad to it to make the save. However, the rebound trickled behind Williams, and Sheahan was there to clean up the loose ball for her team-leading third goal of the season, which would stand as the game-winner.

Williams (2-3) finished with five saves against six shots on goal in net for the Ravens. At the other end of the field, sophomore Sarah Bodzinski (2-1) made two saves against three shots on goal, with senior midfielder Andrea Koslowski chipping in a defensive save for Assumption.

The Ravens return to the field on Wednesday, Sept. 21, when they travel to American International for a Northeast-10 contest. Game time is set for 7 p.m. at Abdow Field in Springfield, 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).