RINDGE, N.H. (May 2, 2017) – For the first time in eight years, the eighth-seeded Franklin Pierce University women's lacrosse team will make a postseason appearance on Wednesday afternoon, as the Ravens travel to meet top seed and No. 1 nationally ranked Le Moyne in the quarterfinal round of the Northeast-10 Conference Championship. Game time is set for 2 p.m. at Ted Grant Field in Syracuse, N.Y.

Franklin Pierce (7-8, 5-8 NE10) returns to the Northeast-10 Championship for the first time since 2009, and has qualified for the third time in program history (2003). The Ravens have never advanced in the tournament, as they suffered quarterfinal losses in each of their previous appearances. In 2009, Lauren Stille '11 -- inducted into the Franklin Pierce Athletics Hall of Fame this past weekend -- had three goals and an assist, but the sixth-seeded Ravens fell at third-seeded Southern New Hampshire, 16-8 (game story). In 2003, sixth-seeded Franklin Pierce was held off the board in the first half en route to a 19-4 loss at third-seeded Bryant. The Ravens have been the final team to qualify for the NE10 Championship in each of their three appearances.

Meanwhile, Le Moyne (16-0, 13-0 NE10) has been among the cream of the NE10 crop since joining the league in 2011. The Dolphins have now qualified for the NE10 Championship in each of their seven years in the Conference and have advanced to the title game in five of their previous six appearances. Le Moyne has been the runner-up in each of the last two seasons, having dropped the championship contest to three-time defending champion Adelphi in both 2015 and 2016. The Dolphins captured their lone NE10 title in 2013, 8-6 over Adelphi (game story), and also fell in the final against the Panthers in 2011 and 2012.

Scouting the Ravens

Franklin Pierce qualified for its third NE10 Championship on the strength of a run of play through the middle of the season. The Ravens won five of six games from March 29 through April 15, a stretch which included all five of the team's league wins on the season. Key in the run were a pair of one-goal victories, with junior midfielder Caitlin Sweeney (Shirley, N.Y.) leading the way both times. On April 8, she tallied seven goals to lead all players in a 15-14 win at home against SNHU (game story). On April 15, she poured in a career-best nine goals as the Ravens built an early lead and held on for a 17-16 win at Southern Connecticut State (game story).

The Ravens used the run through the middle of the schedule to balance out the league's toughest schedule down the stretch. A 10-8 loss at home against Bentley (game story) snapped a four-game winning streak, before Franklin Pierce dropped three straight games to nationally-ranked competition to close the season. Still, the Ravens could perhaps have been seeded higher, if not for a trio of one-goal losses on the year: 11-10 in overtime against Assumption on March 21 (game story), 11-10 against Saint Anselm on March 25 (game story) and 13-12 against Pace on Senior Day on April 22 (game story). Setting aside the loss to Saint Anselm, Franklin Pierce's other seven losses on the season came to the seven other teams which qualified for the NE10 Championship.

Sweeney has led the way for the Ravens throughout the season. With a previous career high of 51 points, during her freshman season, she has erupted for 72 points on 60 goals and 12 assists in her penultimate season in Rindge. She is one of only two players in program history to top 70 points for a season, joining Stille, who did so in both 2008 and 2009. Twin sister and fellow midfielder Briana Sweeney (Shirley, N.Y.) is next in the attack, as she has matched her career high with 63 points on 41 goals and 22 assists, with the latter mark just three helpers shy of the program's single-season record. Junior attack Anna Wilbert (Bohemia, N.Y.) has added 25 goals and four assists for 29 points, while no other Raven has reached the 20-point mark on the season.

Scouting the Dolphins

On the other side of the ledger, Le Moyne is unblemished on the season and has not lost since last season's national semifinal, when they dropped a 13-4 decision to eventual national runner-up Adelphi (game story). The Dolphins have poured in 217 goals in 16 games (13.56 goals per game) and have enjoyed an average margin of victory of 7.69 goals per game. The signature win on the year for Le Moyne came on April 18, when the Dolphins prevailed in a defensive struggle at home to secure a 5-4 win over then No.1 nationally ranked Adelphi (game story). Freshman attack Sidney Hall provided the game-winner with 10:06 to play and freshman goalkeeper Hannah George made three saves down the stretch as the Dolphins snapped a stretch of eight straight losses to the Panthers.

The Dolphins feature an attack with many options, as eight different players have tallied at least 20 points on the season. Senior midfielder Vicki Graveline -- a two-time All-America selection -- leads the way with 60 points on 42 goals and 18 assists. Hall (28-14-42), junior attack Jacqueline Pardee (33-5-38) and sophomore attack Maddie Knapp (9-26-35) have all topped 30 points as well. Knapp ranks fourth in the NE10 in assists.

Earlier this Season

The two teams just met in the regular-season finale this past Saturday, April 29, at Ted Grant Field. Graveline (3-1-4) and senior attack Alexis Garbarino (3-0-3) tallied three goals each, as Le Moyne posted a 17-6 victory (game story) to complete the first undefeated regular season in program history, as well as the second unblemished run through NE10 play in the last six years. The Dolphins scored the game's first seven goals and never looked back. Caitlin Sweeney scored twice in defeat for Franklin Pierce.

Headed to the Game?

Should you plan on making the trip to the Emerald City on Wednesday afternoon, Le Moyne's fan guide, complete with directions to campus and parking information can be found here. 

Ticket prices are set as follows:

Adults - $6
Children/Seniors - $4
Students (with valid ID from NE10 institutions) - $1

Per Conference policy, no complimentary admissions will be issued.

How to Follow Along

If you prefer to follow the action from home, from work or from elsewhere, both live video and live stats will be available.

Live stats | Video 

More information on the NE10 Championship may be found here.

Up Next

The winner of Wednesday's quarterfinal contest will advance to the semifinal round of the Northeast-10 Championship, set for Saturday, May 6, and will face the winner of Wednesday night's contest between fifth-seeded Pace and fourth-seeded Stonehill. The semifinals and title game will be hosted by the highest advancing seed from the quarterfinal round.

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). Fans wishing to purchase Franklin Pierce lacrosse apparel can do so at the Department of Athletics' online store (http://athletics.franklinpierce.edu/store).