Fernanda Marques notches goal for the Ravens

RINDGE, N.H. (September 6, 2013) – The Franklin Pierce University women’s soccer team could not shake a pair off a pair of Caldwell second-half goals on Friday night, including one in the 79^th minute, in dropping a 2-1 decision to the Cougars at Sodexo Field in Rindge. The Ravens fell to 0-1-0, while Caldwell improved to 1-0-0.

The setback also snapped Franklin Pierce’s string of 24-straight season-openers – dating back to 1990 – without a loss. The Ravens had gone 23-0-1 during that stretch with their last loss to open a campaign coming in 1989 in a 1-0 defeat to Springfield.

Lauren Iuliucci headed home a shot off a corner kick attempt from Carissa Strye in the 79^th minute, which proved to be the game-winner for the Cougars.

The goal deflated the Ravens, who had spent the past several minutes of the game dominating the pace of play, including getting a tying goal from sophomore Fernanda Marques (Sao Paulo, Brazil) four minutes earlier. Junior midfielder Caroline Savasta (Salem, Mass.) set up the scoring play as she worked her way with the ball around a pair of Caldwell defenders and slipped a pass to Marques just inside the top of the box, who quickly buried a shot to the lower right corner of the goal.

The marker was Marques’ second of her career, while Savasta earned an assist on the goal after tying for the team lead with four helpers last season.

Franklin Pierce had a flurry of scoring chances within a 15-second span early in the second half, but could not convert on any of them to break the scoreless tie. It was all part of an 18-5 advantage in shots for the Ravens, including getting six from freshman Nicole Chaet (Tewksbury, Mass.) and five from sophomore Hannah Weagle (Ipswich, Mass.).

Caldwell goalie Robin Franchi (1-0) stood strong in goal by making five saves and allowing her teammates to finally get going offensively in the second half, including in the 63^rd minute when Natalie Migoya scored off a centering pass from just in front of the net to make it 1-0 Cougars.

Sophomore Katie Weldon (Manchester, N.H.) got the start in goal for the Ravens and made just one save in suffering the loss to fall to 0-1.

Franklin Pierce returns to action Sunday when the Ravens play host to Wilmington (Del.) in a 3 p.m. kickoff at Sodexo Field in Rindge.

For more information on Franklin Pierce women’s soccer, please visit the team’s page at http://athletics.franklinpierce.edu(.) To follow the program even further, please visit Franklin Pierce Athletics on YouTube (www.youtube.com/FranklinPierceSports), Twitter (www.twitter.com/FPUathletics) and Facebook (www.facebook.com/FranklinPierceRavens). Fans wishing to purchase Franklin Pierce women’s soccer apparel can do so on the athletic department’s online store at athletics.franklinpierce.edu/store(.)