Recap by Director of Athletic Communications Luke Tracy 

RINDGE, N.H. (3/3/2024) – The Franklin Pierce University women's lacrosse team notched their first win and conference victory of their 2024 campaign Saturday afternoon over the Owls of Southern Connecticut State University. For Caroline Lounsbury '19, the win marks her first victory as a collegiate head coach.

Score: Franklin Pierce 9, SCSU 8
Records: Franklin Pierce (1-2, 1-0 NE10), SCSU (1-2,1-1 NE10)
Location: Sodexo Field, Rindge, New Hampshire.
Date: Saturday, March 3, 2024

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Saturday's Northeast-10 Conference showdown proved to be a competitive one as neither team held more than a two goal lead the entire game. In the first quarter, SCSU scored the first women's lacrosse goal on Sodexo field in 2024 off a free position shot from Morgan Reilly. The Ravens responded five minutes later when Erin McIlroy (Newfields, NH) hit a cutting Olivia Robb (East Longmeadow, MA) with a pass on the crease which Robb buried by the SCSU goalie. The Owls resecured the 2-1 lead shortly after but again the Ravens responded, this time with a pair of goals to grab their first lead of the game. At 2:48, Riley Beem (Windham, ME) blew by her defender and ripped a shot bottom right.  A minute later, Emily Ulmer (Bedford, NH) carried the ball at X and passed to a wide open McIlroy who made a quick shot and goal. Closing out the first quarter, the Ravens held the 2-1 lead.
• Neither team found the back of the net in the first six minutes of the second quarter, but the drought ended with two back-to-back goals from the Owls which came 40-seconds apart. Just 90-seconds later, the Ravens worked the ball in the offensive zone and Kayli Hoefs (Amsterdam, NY) tried to hit a cutting Riley Beem. The ball didn't reach Beem, but her cut screened the ball which hit the back of the net and evened the game at 4-4.  
• Opening up the second half, the Ravens grabbed a game high two goal lead after Hoefs and McIlroy chipped in more points with a goal a-piece. 30 seconds after the Ravens secured a little breathing room, the Owls fought back with three unanswered goals and grabbed the 7-6 lead. At 3:23, Hoefs drove from the top of the arc, weaved through several defenders and netted her third goal of the game. Heading for the fourth quarter, the teams were locked at 7-7.
• 90-seconds into the fourth, Olivia DeLonais (North Andover, MA) set up for a dodge at the top of the arc. Splitting left and down the alley, Hoefs set a pick on a defender which gave DeLonais a step ahead. Pushing towards the crease, DeLonais reached the crease and buried an unassisted goal and secured the Ravens' third lead of the game. Four-and-a-minutes later, DeLonais scored again off a pass from Beem, which made it 9-7 Ravens. The Owls grabbed the final goal of the game at 1:39 but after that the Ravens ran the clock out and earned their first win of the season.

BREAKING DOWN THE NUMBERS:

• Shots:
  • Franklin Pierce: 28
  • SCSU: 22
• Ground Balls:
  • Franklin Pierce: 13
  • SCSU: 20
• Draw Controls:
  • Franklin Pierce: 10
  • SCSU: 10
• Clears:
  • Franklin Pierce: 16-17
  • SCSU: 16-18
• Saves:
  • Franklin Pierce: 9
  • SCSU: 11
• Turnovers:
  • Franklin Pierce: 17
  • SCSU: 15

NEXT FOR THE RAVENS: The Ravens get a week off until they hit the road Saturday, March 9^th to take on the Hawks of Saint Anselm College at 1:00 PM.