Late Rally for Women’s Lacrosse Comes Up Short in 11-9 Loss to Assumption

Hunt Makes 13 Stops in Defeat

RINDGE, N.H. (March 25, 2015) -- A late, spirited effort by the Franklin Pierce University Women's Lacrosse team came up short as it fell at home in a Northeast-10 Conference game to the Assumption College Greyhounds, 11-9. With less than nine minutes to play in the game, the Ravens found themselves down 10-5 when Lauren Beville (Jamesville, N.Y.) netted back-to-back goals to start a rally which saw Franklin Pierce score four of the last five goals in the game, before it ran out of time. Sophomore midfielders Tori Russo and Quincy Wilkins led the way for the Greyhounds as Russo finished with four points on three goals and an assist, while Wilkins had two goals to go with three helpers to finish with five points.

With the loss, Franklin Pierce falls to 4-2 (2-2 NE-10) and Assumption improves to 7-1 (3-1 NE-10). The score line represented an improvement for the Ravens against Assumption, as they had dropped a 14-7 decision in 2014 and a 23-10 contest in 2013 against the Greyhounds.

Assumption held a one-goal lead at the halftime break and would never lose the lead in the second half. The Greyhounds made it a two-goal margin -- the eventual final deficit as well for the Ravens -- 2:30 into the second stanza. In fact, Assumption scored five of the first six goals of the second half to push the lead as high as 10-5, before Franklin Pierce surged in the final 10 minutes. The Ravens were able to close the gap to 11-9 with 4:10 to play, but could get no closer.

Franklin Pierce was once again led by freshman midfielder Caitlin Sweeney (Shirley, N.Y.), the reigning Northeast-10 Rookie of the Week, who posted three goals and added an assist for four points. The three goals for Sweeney moves her season total to 21, good for sixth-best in the Northeast-10.

On the defensive end, sophomores Denise Hunt (Hull, Mass.) and Kenady Kelly (Plymouth, N.H.) had strong games for Franklin Pierce. In between the pipes, Hunt stopped 13 of the 24 shots that Assumption put on cage. From midfield, Kelly played strong defense all game and had six groundballs, three caused turnovers, and one draw control.

Sophomore Jaclyn Chirco started in goal for Assumption and finished with 12 saves against 21 shots on net and improved to 7-1 on the season. The 12 saves for Chirco moves her to 80 saves on the season which is good for second-best in the Northeast-10. The loss in net for Hunt marks the first loss of her career, and she falls to 3-1 on the season.

The Ravens return to action Saturday, March 28, when they play host defending national champion and No. 1 ranked Adelphi University. Game time is set for noon at Sodexo Field.