Stille, Lamagdeleine net two goals each

NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. (April 26, 2011) – Junior midfielder Colleen Strachan scored five goals and added an assist to total six points on Tuesday afternoon to lead No. 13 nationally ranked Merrimack to a 21-8 win over the Franklin Pierce University women's lacrosse team in Northeast-10 Conference play at Warrior Field. Senior attacker Lauren Stille (North Quincy, Mass.) and sophomore midfielder Ashley Lamagdeleine (Westfield, Mass.) scored twice each in defeat for Franklin Pierce.

With the loss, Franklin Pierce falls to 6-9 (3-8 Northeast-10), while Merrimack improves to 11-5 (8-4 Northeast-10).

Merrimack scored seven seconds into the game on its way to a 10-0 run to start the contest over the opening 20:08. Strachan put home a pair of goals in the game-opening run, as did junior attacker Alicia Tinsley, while senior midfielder Christina McCarron added a goal and an assist.

Franklin Pierce picked up two of the next three goals, as sophomore midfielder Courtney Weber (Centerport, N.Y.) and senior attacker Ashley Moirano (Vero Beach, Fla.) each found the back of the net to cut the gap to 11-2. However, Merrimack would finish with the final three goals of the half, including Strachan's fourth of the game, to take a 14-2 lead into the intermission.

The second half would be more level, as Stille and Lamagdeleine each scored twice, in addition to goals from junior midfielder Christine McKay (Norwood, Mass.) and senior attacker Jordan Baillargeon (Westfield, Mass.). Merrimack countered with seven goals in the second half to create the 21-8 final.

For Franklin Pierce, after Stille and Lamagdeleine, Baillargeon was the other Raven with multiple points, as she finished with a goal and an assist. On the other side of the ball, junior goalkeeper Jillian Bolduc (Atkinson, N.H.) led Franklin Pierce with four ground balls, while three different Ravens caused two turnovers each.

For Merrimack, Strachan led the way with five goals and one assist for six points, while Tinsley (4-0-4), McCarron (3-1-4) and junior midfielder Mary Pasquantonio (2-2-4) all added four points each. Senior attacker Maria DeStefano scored three goals for the Warriors. Defensively, freshman midfielder Olivia Huie picked up three ground balls, while Pasquantonio and Strachan caused three turnovers each.

Bolduc made five saves and took the loss (6-9) in front of the Franklin Pierce net. Freshman Inna Hedden stopped 13 shots to pick up the win (11-5) between the pipes for Merrimack.

Merrimack posted a 32-25 advantage in shots and held an 18-17 edge in ground balls in the game. Franklin Pierce was successful on 23 of its 31 (74.2%) clear attempts and finished 1-for-6 on free-position shots. Merrimack went 23-for-27 (85.2%) on clear attempts and 7-for-10 on free-position shots.

The Ravens return to the field on Saturday, April 30, when they close out the season by hosting Assumption in a Northeast-10 Conference contest. Game time is scheduled for 3 p.m. at Sodexo Field in Rindge. Franklin Pierce will honor its four-player senior class prior to the start of the game.

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).