MANCHESTER, N.H. (September 20, 2017) – The Franklin Pierce University field hockey team led through the final horn in regulation on Wednesday night, and yet, it would not be enough at Larkin Field. Southern New Hampshire converted on a penalty corner after time expired, and struck on another corner attempt early in the second overtime to snatch a Northeast-10 Conference victory away from Franklin Pierce, and instead deal the Ravens a 2-1 defeat.

With the loss, Franklin Pierce falls to 4-3 (1-1 NE10), while SNHU improves to 5-1 (2-0 NE10).

Staked to a 1-0 lead after the halftime break, the Ravens were searching for insurance through the middle portions of the second half. Over the course of the 49^th and 50^th minutes, the team earned three straight penalty corners. However, the crimson and grey managed just one shot attempt over the course of those corners: a long drive from the left side by senior midfielder Erin Smith (Templeton, Mass.), which was blocked by the defense.

The failed opportunities began to loom large later, as SNHU started to up the pressure in the final 20 minutes of regulation. Still, the Franklin Pierce defense stood firm, and refused to yield much in the way of quality scoring chances to the Penmen.

At least, that was the case until the closing moments.

SNHU was awarded its 14^th corner of the game with less than 20 seconds to play in the second half. With field hockey featuring a unique rule which allows play on a corner to continue past the expiration of a period, the Penmen were able to take their time, push the entire team forward and set up their final chance to tie.

The Ravens were unable to clear the corner attempt and eventually ceded a second straight corner, though the defense blocked one shot along the way. Off the second corner, senior goalkeeper Meaghan Williams (Salem, N.H.) made a save on a quality scoring opportunity by senior forward Amaris Taylor, with the rebound leading to a scramble on the left side of the circle. Off a touch from sophomore back Alison Hildreth, senior midfielder Erin Frost was able to dig the ball out of the scrum and slice a long shot through traffic, which found the right side of the net to tie up the game after the completion of the full 70 minutes. It was Frost's team-leading fifth goal of the season.

Franklin Pierce's best chance in the overtime periods would come in the 84^th minute, just before the end of the first overtime. After a rush into the circle, senior forward Carly Canavan (Kingston, N.Y.) was fed the ball with space and only the goalie between her and the goal, approximately eight yards in front of the cage. SNHU junior goalkeeper Melanie Rennie was equal to the task though, and turned the hard shot aside to keep the game level at 1-1.

The Penmen made Rennie's final save of the night hold up just 1:49 into the second overtime, when they converted on their first corner attempt of extra time. Senior forward Mikaela Gauvain wound up with her first goal of the campaign, as she had the deflection out front to tip home a drive by sophomore forward Laura van der Doorn.

Franklin Pierce's only goal of the game had come in the first half, in the 31^st minute, with just 4:25 to go until halftime. In the run of play, the ball came to junior midfielder Raegan Moulton (Baldwinville, Mass.) near the edge of the circle on the right side. Moulton had traffic in front of the cage and unleashed her shot from there. The ball snaked its way through said traffic, beat Rennie and found the back of the net for Moulton's fourth goal of the season.

Williams (4-3) finished with seven saves against nine shots on goal in net for Franklin Pierce, while sophomore midfielder Jessica Strassburg (Longmeadow, Mass.) added her first career defensive save. At the other end of the field, Rennie (5-1) collected five saves against six shots for SNHU, and two of her fellow defenders picked up defensive saves along the way.

The Ravens return to the field on Saturday, Sept. 23, when they return home to host Merrimack in an NE10 contest. Game time is set for 4:30 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 apparel can do so at the Department of Athletics' online store (http://athletics.franklinpierce.edu/store).