RINDGE, N.H. (October 8, 2016) – The Franklin Pierce University field hockey team was able to ramp up the pressure in the second half on Saturday afternoon at Sodexo Field, but it was not enough to erase two goals against in a sloppy first half, as the Ravens suffered a 2-1 defeat at the hands of Southern Connecticut State in Northeast-10 Conference play. The Owls got first-half goals from senior midfielder Vienna Pallisco and senior forward Bailey McGinnis, while junior forward Carly Canavan (Kingston, N.Y.) had the second-half tally for Franklin Pierce.

With the loss, Franklin Pierce falls to 3-9 (0-7 Northeast-10), while SCSU improves to 3-9 (1-5 Northeast-10). It marked the first time since 2007 SCSU had taken two regular season meetings against Franklin Pierce. With the exception of 2011 and 2012 -- when they met once each -- the two teams have played twice annually during the regular season since 2003.

The two halves were very different statistically on Saturday afternoon. Franklin Pierce looked disjointed in the first half and could get little going from the midfield forward. The Ravens did hold a 7-6 edge in shot attempts in the first stanza, but four of those came in a single flurry off of one penalty corner. The Ravens also posted a 4-3 margin in shots on goal, but surrendered six penalty corners to SCSU, while earning just two of their own.

The fifth of the six first-half corners for the Owls would ultimately lead to the game's opening goal, in the 27th minute. The aftermath of the corner produced a scramble in front of the Franklin Pierce cage, which eventually saw the whistle blown and SCSU awarded a penalty stroke. Pallisco took the stroke for the Owls and lifted the ball into the left side of the net for her second goal of the season, beating the dive of Franklin Pierce junior goalkeeper Meaghan Williams (Salem, N.H.).

The Owls doubled the lead to 2-0 in the 33rd minute, after a miscue by the Franklin Pierce midfield. A mishandled back pass from the midfield line led to a footrace for the ball, which was meandering towards the Franklin Pierce circle. McGinnis won the race to the ball, which left her with a breakaway on Williams. McGinnis deked to the left post and was able to steer her shot around the dive of Williams and tuck it inside the left post for her third goal of the campaign.

Franklin Pierce struck for its only goal of the proceedings in the 45th minute, in the aftermath of a penalty corner. Junior back Lauren Grimard (Turners Falls, Mass.) was stymied twice in quick succession from the left side by SCSU freshman goalkeeper Brianna Craft, but the rebound of the second shot produced a scramble for the ball in the goalmouth. Canavan was ultimately the first to find the ball and salted it away for her team-leading sixth goal of the season. It was Canavan's 26th career goal, moving her into a tie with Debbie Jones '04 for second in program history.

Williams (3-9) finished with one save against three shots on goal in net for Franklin Pierce while taking the loss. At the other end of the field, Craft (3-9) made nine saves against 10 shots on goal to pick up the win for SCSU.

The Ravens return to the field on Saturday, Oct. 15, when they remain home to take on Adelphi. Game time is set for 1 p.m. at Sodexo Field.

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).