Valaydon nets goal

RINDGE, N.H. (October 24, 2014) – Pace sophomore forward Alyssa Zeoli scored the equalizer with 5:26 to play in regulation and later set up the game-winner in the second overtime on Friday night, as the Franklin Pierce University women's soccer team suffered a 2-1 defeat in Northeast-10 Conference play at Sodexo Field. Freshman forward Nalina Valaydon (Longueuil, Quebec) scored the lone goal in defeat for Franklin Pierce.

With the loss, Franklin Pierce falls to 9-4-1 (7-4-1 Northeast-10) and has its winning streak snapped at six games. Pace improves to 9-7-0 (7-5-0 Northeast-10) with the victory.

The first hour went scoreless on Friday night before the Ravens finally broke the ice in the 68th minute. The Franklin Pierce front line found itself with numbers in the offensive half of the field, as sophomore midfielder Madison Finlay (Plymouth, Mass.) had the ball in space outside the penalty area on the left side. Using the available real estate, Finlay was able to find a lane to slip a pass through to Valaydon, who was stationed neared the penalty spot. Valaydon was able to take a touch and then finish her third goal of the year inside the right post, beyond the reach of Pace freshman goalkeeper Aisha Chauhan.

Franklin Pierce appeared poised to hang on to the 1-0 lead until the final whistle at 90 minutes, but instead, a defensive breakdown in the 85th minute forced overtime. With the Ravens attempting to clear their own end, Zeoli pressured the backline and forced a turnover 25 yards from goal, on the right side. Zeoli controlled the ball to the top of the 18-yard box and then sent a low shot inside the left post, which beat Franklin Pierce freshman goalkeeper Casey Cook (Beverly, Mass.) for her team-leading 14th goal of the season.

The final 5:26 of regulation and all of the first overtime went without further scoring until Pace found the game-winner in the 102nd minute. Working off a counter-attack, Zeoli had the ball on a run down the left side and was able to draw multiple defenders to her vicinity. While trying to track down Zeoli, the Franklin Pierce backline left senior forward Jillian Ferro unattended at the top of the 18. Zeoli slipped a pass through to Ferro, who had time to settle, pick her spot inside the left post and finish off her ninth goal of the campaign.

Franklin Pierce enjoyed an advantage of 16-7 in shot attempts on Friday, but struggled to find the target, as the margin only resulted in a 7-5 edge in shots on goal. Neither team put a ball on-frame in either overtime, until Ferro's game-winner sent everybody home.

Cook finished with three saves against five shots on goal and suffered the loss (7-4-1) between the pipes for Franklin Pierce. Freshman Lauren DeSousa started in net for Pace and stopped all three shots on her net in the first half, before ceding her position to Chauhan. The latter went the rest of the way and also made three saves, against four shots on goal, while picking up the win (5-4-0) for Pace.

The Ravens return to the field on Wednesday, Oct. 29, when they travel to Southern New Hampshire for a Northeast-10 Conference contest. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. at Larkin Field in Manchester, N.H.

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