Cronin earns first career victory

NYACK, N.Y. (March 15, 2013) – Senior attacker Courtney Weber (Centerport, N.Y.) and freshman attacker Nicole Dale (Ronkonkoma, N.Y.) each scored twice in the season's first 11 minutes on Friday afternoon, as the Franklin Pierce University women's lacrosse team built a 4-0 lead on the way to a 14-4 victory over Nyack in non-conference play at Mosley Field. Freshman attacker Selena Vargas had two goals in the loss for Nyack.

With the win, Franklin Pierce opens the season at 1-0 (0-0 Northeast-10), while Nyack falls to 0-1 (0-0 Central Atlantic). The game was the inaugural contest for Nyack, which is fielding a varsity lacrosse team for the first time in 2013. The Franklin Pierce victory marked the first career win for first-year Head Coach Brianna Cronin.

Franklin Pierce opened with the first four goals of the game, as Weber and Dale alternated tallies, while sophomore attacker Megan Raposa (Tiverton, R.I.) added an assist. Vargas answered with 17:48 to play in the half to score the first goal in program history for Nyack. However, the Ravens tacked on three more over the ensuing 10:10 to jump to a 7-1 lead. Weber and Dale each scored again, and then Weber set up the first of the season for senior attacker Ashley Lamagdeleine (Westfield, Mass.).

Junior midfielder Stacey Cervantes got the Warriors back on the board again, before Franklin Pierce poured in the final four goals of the first half to take an 11-2 lead into the intermission. Sophomore attacker Madeline Shopshire (Hyannis, Mass.) scored her first two goals of the season, in succession, before freshman attacker Nicole Beliveau (Westfield, Mass.) scored her first career goal and Raposa capped the period with a goal to go with her earlier assist.

The Ravens scored the first two goals of the second half, over a span of 13:50, to push the lead as high as 13-2. Senior midfielder Lindsey Leach (Hamden, Conn.) put home the first of her final campaign, before Shopshire added her third of the game, while Lamagdeleine assisted on each to finish with three points as well. Freshman defender Lauren Beville (Jamesville, N.Y.) capped the scoring for Franklin Pierce with her first career goal, sandwiched between Nyack goals from freshman midfielder Lauren Lebo and Vargas, creating the 14-4 final.

Junior goalkeeper Jacqueline Jolles (Hamden, Conn.) made her first start for Franklin Pierce and made seven saves against 11 shots on goal to pick up her first win (1-0) as a Raven. Junior Rosemarie Haynes minded the net in Nyack's debut, made 12 saves against 26 shots on goal, but was saddled with the loss (0-1).

Franklin Pierce held a 31-17 advantage in shot attempts and a 12-5 edge in draw controls, though Nyack held a 14-9 advantage in ground balls in the game. Franklin Pierce was successful on all 12 of its clear attempts, while Nyack went 6-for-9 (66.7%).

The Ravens return to the field on Sunday, March 17, when they travel to St. Thomas Aquinas for a non-conference contest. Game time is set for 1 p.m. at Torne Valley Sports Complex in Hillburn, N.Y.

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).