RINDGE, N.H. (October 13, 2018) – Three goals in the opening 27 minutes opened up an early lead on Saturday afternoon for the Franklin Pierce University field hockey team. The Ravens added two more in the second half to go on to a 5-1 win over visiting Southern Connecticut State in Northeast-10 Conference play at Sodexo Field. Senior forward Rachel Lapointe (Greenfield, Mass.) and junior forward Madison Gagnon (Milford, N.H.) had a goal and an assist each in the victory.

With the win, Franklin Pierce improves to 5-5 (2-3 NE10), while Southern Connecticut State falls to 0-11 (0-6 NE10). Franklin Pierce controlled play throughout the day, to the tune of advantages of 21-4 in shot attempts, 12-3 in shots on goal and 9-0 in penalty corners.

The Ravens opened the scoring just 7:55 into the proceedings. With the ball near the end line on the right side, Lapointe slipped a pass to senior forward Ashley Silva (Laconia, N.H.), who was stationed about five yards in front of the right post. Silva took a touch to her backhand side and then put a reverse-stick shot home for her third goal of the season.

It took less than four minutes for Franklin Pierce to double the lead, as senior midfielder Raegan Moulton (Baldwinville, Mass.) struck for her second of the season just 3:21 later, in the 12^th minute. She was able to maneuver her way around a defender in tight quarters to open a shooting lane near the right post. Moulton then reversed her stick for the shot and the finish.

Gagnon capped the first-half scoring in the 27^th minute, to give the Ravens a 3-0 lead heading into halftime. Freshman midfielder Feline van Doorn (Barendrecht, Netherlands) was in the middle of the circle and was able to poke a touch pass over to the right side. Gagnon was there, five yards in front of the post, and had an empty net to finish off her second goal of the campaign.

Franklin Pierce popped two more on the other side of halftime to push the lead as high as 5-0. In the 55^th minute, Moulton took a big shot from the top of the circle, which was saved by SCSU junior goalkeeper Brianna Craft. However, senior forward Dayna Kowesky (Leominster, Mass.) was on the scene and immediately banged home the rebound for her fourth of the season, to tie for the team goal-scoring lead.

In the 64^th minute, Lapointe and Gagnon each capped off their three-point day, as the latter set up the former's third goal of the season. Gagnon had the feed from the right-wing side into the right side of the circle, and Lapointe put her shot inside the far post from there.

SCSU created the 5-1 final with a goal with just 2:04 to play. Senior midfielder Natasha Prukalski found a lane to drive a long ball ahead from the midfield and into the circle. Sophomore back Chloe Knight had already made her way ahead, was in the middle of the circle, and was able to redirect the ball home for her second goal of the season, to spoil Franklin Pierce's shutout bid.

Sophomore goalkeeper Olivia Barnes (Greenwich, N.Y.) finished the afternoon with two saves, against three shots on goal, to pick up the win (5-5) in front of the Franklin Pierce net.

At the other end of the field, senior Kelli McCombs (0-1) played the first half, made one save against four shots and suffered the loss in the SCSU goal. Craft took over for the second half and made six saves against eight shots the rest of the day.

The Ravens return to the field on Tuesday, Oct. 16, when they remain home to host Saint Michael's in an NE10 contest. Game time is set for 6 p.m. at Sodexo Field.

For more information on Franklin Pierce Athletics, please visit the official website of Franklin Pierce Athletics (https://www.fpuravens.com). 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 (https://www.fpuravens.com/store).