RINDGE, N.H. (September 23, 2017) – After going down a goal early, the Franklin Pierce University women's soccer team responded with force on Saturday night at Sodexo Field. The Ravens poured in three goals in a span of just 12:15 in the first half to post a 3-1 win over Saint Anselm in Northeast-10 Conference play. Senior midfielder Nalina Valaydon (Longueuil, Quebec) provided the eventual game-winner in the 30^th minute.

With the win, Franklin Pierce improves to 4-1-1 (3-1-1 NE10), while Saint Anselm falls to 3-4-0 (1-4-0 NE10). Franklin Pierce controlled the game throughout, as the Ravens racked up advantages of 21-8 in shot attempts and 11-5 in shots on goal.

Saint Anselm opened the scoring on Saturday 15 minutes into the proceedings, directly off a corner kick. Freshman midfielder Nicole White took the corner from the right-wing side, and her service found the head of junior forward Corey Murray outside the top of the six-yard box. Murray put her header inside the left post for her third goal of the season to stake the Hawks to a 1-0 lead.

From there though, it was all Ravens. The crimson and grey evened the score in the 24^th minute, with a header of their own. In the aftermath of a corner kick, the ball came back out to sophomore midfielder Gabi Pereira (Belo Horizonte, Brazil) outside the penalty area on the left-wing side. Pereira sent her service back into the middle, where junior back Marta Turmo (Barcelona, Spain) got her head to the ball. Turmo put her header inside the right post for her second goal of the campaign.

Valaydon would put the Ravens ahead to stay in the 30^th minute. The feed came in the run of play, from junior midfielder Bruna Tavares (Belo Horizonte, Brazil) on the right-wing side of the penalty area. Valaydon was stationed near the penalty spot and tucked a shot inside the left post for her second goal of the year 

Franklin Pierce struck again in the 36^th minute, for what would turn out to be the game's final goal, after Saint Anselm was whistled for handling the ball inside the penalty area. Junior midfielder Nathalia Maria da Silva (Sao Paulo, Brazil) took the ensuing penalty kick and slotted it into the left side of the net for her second goal of the season to create the 3-1 final.

Senior goalkeeper Casey Cook (Beverly, Mass.) made four saves against five shots on goal to pick up the win (4-1-1) in net for Franklin Pierce. Junior netminder Elise Bouchard (3-3-0) started, played the first half for Saint Anselm and made three saves against six shots on goal. Freshman Payton Wildrick took over for the second half and stopped all five shots on her goal the rest of the way.

The Ravens return to the field on Wednesday, Sept. 27, when they travel to Stonehill for an NE10 contest. Opening kickoff is set for 4 p.m. at Skyhawk Field in Easton, Mass.

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