Late Raven Rally Not Enough In Conference Setback to Stonehill

RINDGE, N.H. (April 7, 2018) – Stonehill College rebounded from a 9-6 deficit and exploded for 10 unanswered goals as the guests hung on to defeat Northeast-10 Conference opponent Franklin Pierce University 17-16 Saturday afternoon on Sodexo Field. With the victory, the Skyhawks even up their mark at 5-5, 4-4 NE10 while the Ravens stumble to 4-6, 2-6 NE10.

After giving up the lead, the Ravens showed fight and crawled back into the game scoring seven of the contests final eight goals including a tally to come within one at the 28-second mark. Caitlin Sweeney (Shirley, N.Y.) manufactured a game-high seven points off four goals and three assists. She also won a game-high six draw controls and grabbed three groundballs. Teammate Briana Sweeney (Shirley, N.Y.) chipped in three goals and one assist while freshman midfielder Zoe Totland (Salt Lake City, Utah) added two goals, two assists, and five draw victories.

Madison Murray (Berkley, Mich.) started in the cage for FPU and stopped four shots in 40 minutes of play. She was relieved by freshman Casey Butera (West Milford, N.J.) for the final 19 and a half minutes and Butera made five saves. Mackenzie Pleshaw and Brianna Doherty led Stonehill with five-point efforts each.

The Ravens notched the first goal of the showdown as Brianna Sweeney won the opening draw, streaked down the field and dumped in a snipe low to give the Ravens the 1-0 edge 14 seconds in. The squads swapped scores until Doherty and Shannon Hughes played give-and-go connecting on a catch and shoot attempt to push the Skyhawks ahead 3-2 for the first time in the game.

A Totland free position rip deadlocked the score at 3-3, but Stonehill moved ahead 5-3 following two goals, a Lauren Smith free position conversion and a Pleshaw high cheese snipe. Two free position goals off the sticks of Caitlin and Briana Sweeney moved the Ravens back in front 7-6. The Crimson and Grey upped the score to 9-6 as Julia Miller (Westfield, Mass.) and Morgan Riley (Jamesville, N.Y.) who just subbed into the game a few seconds prior, cashed in shot attempts.

Trailing 9-6, Stonehill dumped in 10 straight goals to lead 16-9 with 18:27 left to play. The Ravens began their comeback attempt with three consecutive scores from Caitlin Sweeney, Caroline Lounsbury (Franklin, Mass.) and Totland to cut the deficit to 16-12. Shannon Hughes stopped the Raven run with an unassisted "man up" goal to increase the Skyhawk margin to 17-12.

The Raven defensive unit and Butera locked down the Stonehill offense and stifled them the rest of the way.  With 10:14 left to play, Sarah Waldrep (North Andover, Mass.) drove right through the teeth of the Skyhawk defense and swung in a low bouncing attempt to make the score 17-13. A Caitlin Sweeney free position tally and a Lounsbury pitch and catch with Totland brought the Ravens within two, 17-15.

41 seconds remained as the Ravens held a free position attempt with a chance to cut the deficit to one. The shot was wide, off the mark and picked up by Olivia DeCurtis of Stonehill who promptly turned the ball over. The ball was scooped up by Totland who fed Anna Wilbert (Bohemia, N.Y.) for her 12th goal of the season to bring the margin to 17-16. The Ravens had one more shot to tie the game, but could not get a shot off as their furious comeback attempt ended.

The Ravens remain home in Rindge for their next contest on Wednesday, April 11th when they host NE10 opponent Saint Michael's for a 4:00 p.m. duel.

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 women's lacrosse apparel can do so at the Department of Athletics' online store (http://athletics.franklinpierce.edu/store).