WEST CALDWELL, N.J. (March 24, 2019) – In the team's final non-conference game of the season, the Franklin Pierce University women's lacrosse team had the offense running on high octane fuel all afternoon on Sunday at East Valley School, as the Ravens rang up a 23-10 win over host Caldwell. Four different players had at least five points in the victory, led by a six-goal, one-assist outing from junior attack Bella Lima (Hudson, Mass.).

With the win, Franklin Pierce improves to 5-2, while Caldwell falls to 1-6. The 23 goals for is tied for second-highest in Franklin Pierce history. It is also tied for the most goals the team has ever scored against NCAA Division II competition. The only time the Ravens put home more than 23 goals in a game was on April 10, 2008, when they defeated Division III Norwich, 25-20.

The Ravens got out of the gate in a hurry on Sunday afternoon, as they pumped home the game's first seven goals over the opening 5:09, as part of a 15-goal first half. Sophomore attack Caroline Lounsbury (Franklin, Mass.) piled up four points (2-2-4) in the seven-goal opening spurt, as part of her seven-point day (4-3-7). Freshman attack Morgan Baxendale (Orchard Park, N.Y.) also scored twice in the run, as part of a 3-3-6 day, which marked the highest output of her young career.

Caldwell tallied six of the next 10 goals, including three from junior midfielder Arden Kassaleh, to close the gap to 11-6, with 7:19 to play in the opening half. The Ravens then ran off four straight goals, including another each for Lounsbury and Baxendale, and ultimately took a 15-7 lead into the intermission.

Franklin Pierce scored three straight in a span of four minutes to open the second half and all but put the game out of reach. Lima scored twice in the run and would put home two more later in the half to cap her seven-point afternoon. After Kassaleh struck twice more to make it 18-9, the Ravens finished things off in style with five straight goals. Freshman midfielder Kaitlyn Daly (LaGrangeville, N.Y.) capped Franklin Pierce's scoring on the day by rifling a free-position shot into the top-left corner to finish off her first collegiate hat trick.

Lima (6-1-7) and Lounsbury (4-3-7) led the way for Franklin Pierce, while Baxendale added 3-3-6 and freshman attack Savannah Ernst (American Fork, Utah) chipped in another five points, with 4-1-5. Ernst led the team with 10 draw controls, while Baxendale and Lima collected three ground balls each. Lima and freshman midfielder Jenna Cimbron (Bristol, R.I.) both caused a pair of turnovers.

For Caldwell, Kassaleh matched the seven points of Lima and Lounsbury, with 5-2-7 of her own. Sophomore midfielder Samantha Murphy added 2-1-3, but no other Cougar collected more than two points on the afternoon. Kassaleh matched Ernst with 10 draw controls, while senior midfielder Rachel Lucia scooped up a game-high five ground balls and also led all players with three caused turnovers.

Franklin Pierce split time between two goalkeepers again on Sunday. Freshman Megan Bacik (Huntington Station, N.Y.) took care of the first half and picked up the win (5-2) after making six saves against 13 shots on goal. Junior Casey Butera (West Milford, N.J.) followed with two saves against five shots in the second half.

Freshman goalkeeper Mia Monacelli (1-6) went the first 46:55 in the Caldwell net and finished with 13 saves against 35 shots while taking the loss. Senior Nancy Benedetto stopped one of two shots the rest of the way.

The Ravens return to the field on Wednesday, March 27, when they return home to host Bentley in a Northeast-10 Conference contest. Game time is set for 7 p.m. at Sodexo Field in Rindge. The Ravens will hold their annual Lax-4-Life program in conjunction with the game. 

For more information on Franklin Pierce Athletics, please visit the official website of Franklin Pierce Athletics (https://www.fpuravens.com). 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 (https://www.fpuravens.com/store).