Field Hockey Shutout at No. 5 Stonehill, 2-0

EASTON, Mass. (October 5, 2016) – The defense for the Franklin Pierce University field hockey team stood tall for most of the night on Wednesday, but the offense could get nothing going at W.B. Mason Stadium, as the Ravens dropped a 2-0 decision on the road against No. 5 nationally ranked Stonehill in Northeast-10 Conference play. Sophomore forward Kacie Smith scored the game-winning goal in the first half for Stonehill.

With the loss, Franklin Pierce falls to 3-8 (0-6 Northeast-10), while Stonehill improves to 8-2 (5-1 Northeast-10). Stonehill controlled the game throughout, collecting advantages of 23-6 in shot attempts, 17-4 in shots on goal and 8-4 in penalty corners.

Stonehill opened the scoring on Wednesday in the eighth minute, with the only goal it would need. Smith took the ball on a run down the right side of the field, worked her way around a defender and put her shot to the right of the goalkeeper for her league-leading 15th goal of the season.

The Skyhawks would double the lead to 2-0 and create the final score with an insurance marker in the 56th minute. Junior midfielder Alexandra Gerew banged home her second goal of the campaign by finishing off a long rebound from just inside the top of the circle.

Junior goalkeeper Meaghan Williams (Salem, N.H.) matched her career high with 15 saves against 17 shots on goal while taking the loss (3-8) in net for Franklin Pierce. At the other end of the field, sophomore Sara Freedman (8-2) stopped all four shots on her cage to post her fifth shutout of the season.

The Ravens return to the field on Saturday, Oct. 8, when they return home to host Southern Connecticut State in a Northeast-10 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).