Cook posts shutout in collegiate debut

RINDGE, N.H. (September 4, 2014) – The Franklin Pierce University women's soccer team found the back of the net four times in a span of less than 12 minutes in the second half on Thursday night on the way to a 5-0 win over Dominican (N.Y.) in non-conference play at Sodexo Field on the season's opening night. Junior forward Hannah Weagle (Ipswich, Mass.) scored twice, sophomore forward Nicole Chaet (Tewksbury, Mass.) had the game-winner and sophomore midfielder Madison Finlay (Plymouth, Mass.) contributed a pair of assists.

With the win, Franklin Pierce opens the 2014 campaign at 1-0-0 (0-0-0 Northeast-10), while Dominican falls to 0-1-0 (0-0-0 Northeast-10).

The Ravens scored the first half's only goal in the 24th minute, in the aftermath of a corner kick. The ball was served towards the goal and Dominican sophomore goalkeeper Gina Yannette misplayed the ball inside her own six-yard box. Chaet was the first on the scene in the goalmouth and put it to the back of the net to open the scoring.

Franklin Pierce controlled play through the first 45 minutes, to the tune of a 13-0 advantage in shot attempts, which included a 4-0 edge in shots on goal.

The floodgates opened for the Ravens in the second half, beginning with a 55th-minute goal from junior midfielder Kaycee Pereira (Ludlow, Mass.), her first collegiate goal. Junior midfielder Fernanda Marques (Sao Paulo, Brazil) slipped a pass through the middle of the defense. The ball met Pereira to the left side of the penalty spot and she beat Yannette inside the far post to make it 2-0. Sophomore back Anna Holtschlag (Rhede, Germany) also netted her first career goal, as she put away a penalty kick in the 63rd minute.

The final two markers came from Weagle, who notched her third career multiple-goal game and the first since Sept. 26, 2012, during her freshman campaign. In the 65th minute, Finlay centered the ball from the left side of the box to Weagle at the penalty spot. The latter put the ball inside the right post and past a frustrated Yannette to make it 4-0. Weagle's second goal came in the 67th minute, and was also off an assist from Finlay, to round out the scoring.

Franklin Pierce piled up a 28-2 advantage in shot attempts, a 14-1 margin in shots on goal and an 8-1 edge in penalty kicks on the night. Freshman goalkeeper Casey Cook (Beverly, Mass.) got the start for the Ravens in her collegiate debut and turned aside the only on-target shot from the Chargers to pick up the shutout and the win (1-0-0). Yannette came up with nine saves, but still suffered the loss (0-1-0) for Dominican at the other end of the field.

The Ravens return to the field on Saturday, Sept. 6, when they remain home to host Caldwell in a non-conference contest. Kickoff is set for 3 p.m. at Sodexo Field.

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