Stille, Nash find net for Ravens

WEST HAVEN, Conn. (April 12, 2012) – Senior midfielder Ashley Ferrandiz tallied a game-best eight points on three goals and five assists on Thursday afternoon to lead No. 7 nationally ranked New Haven to a 23-2 win over the Franklin Pierce University women's lacrosse team in Northeast-10 Conference play at Kayo Field.

With the loss, Franklin Pierce falls to 5-6 (3-4 Northeast-10), while New Haven improves to 10-2 (5-2 Northeast-10).

Senior attacker Alexis Gabbe opened the scoring just 21 seconds into the contest for New Haven, before Franklin Pierce struck for both of its goals and its only lead of the afternoon. Just 36 seconds after the Gabbe goal, senior midfielder Mary Kate Stille (North Quincy, Mass.) founded senior attacker Brianna Nash (Oceanside, N.Y.) for the latter's 16th goal of the season to tie the game at 1-1. Eight minutes into the first half, Stille would pick up her 14th of the season, an unassisted tally, to give the Ravens a 2-1 lead. However, New Haven would score the final 13 goals of the first half and tack on nine more in the second half to create the 23-2 final.

In the 13-0 run to close the first half, Ferrandiz struck for all three of her goals, though four of her five assists would come in the second half. Sophomore attacker Nicole McKee scored three times, while Gabbe added two more goals and a pair of assists. In the second half, junior midfielder Kristina Curry and junior attacker Natalie Lieberman netted two goals each.

Defensively for Franklin Pierce, junior midfielder Lindsey Leach (Hamden, Conn.) led all players with four groundballs and five caused turnovers. Senior defender Kim Jaksina (Townsend, Mass.) contributed three groundballs and three caused turnovers.

Ferrandiz and freshman midfielder Kathryn Campbell led New Haven with three groundballs each, while Ferrandiz forced four turnovers.

Senior goalkeeper Jillian Bolduc (Atkinson, N.H.) started and suffered the loss (5-5) in front of the Franklin Pierce net. Over 43:12, she made seven saves against 26 shots on her goal. Senior Maureen Spellman started and picked up the win (10-2) between the pipes for New Haven. In 45:24 of work, she made four saves against six on-target shots.

New Haven held a 36-8 advantage in shot attempts, a 22-19 edge in ground balls and a 21-6 advantage in draw controls in the game. Franklin Pierce was successful on nine of its 15 clear attempts (60%) and went 0-for-2 on free-position shots. New Haven went 14-for-16 on clear attempts (87.5%) and 4-for-9 on free-position opportunities (44.4%).

The Ravens returns to the field on Wednesday, April 18, when they travel to Saint Anselm for a Northeast-10 Conference contest. Game time is scheduled for 7 p.m. at Grappone Stadium in Manchester, N.H. Franklin Pierce next plays at home on Saturday, April 21 against Le Moyne at 11 a.m.

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).