RINDGE, N.H. (September 8, 2018) – The Franklin Pierce University women's soccer team controlled the contest throughout the proceedings on Saturday night at Sodexo field, in the squad's Northeast-10 Conference opener. Junior forward Veronica Marques (Sao Paulo, Brazil) found the net in the 35^th minute, while junior forward Sophie Cousineau (Milton, Mass.) and freshman midfielder Jessica Magerman (Bellingham, Mass.) added second-half tallies as the Ravens dispatched New Haven, 3-0.

With the win, the Ravens improve to 2-0-0 (1-0-0 NE10), while New Haven falls to 2-1-0 (0-1-0 NE10).

The statistical ledger of the contest was lopsided. Franklin Pierce rang up an advantage of 26-3 in shot attempts on Saturday night, which included a 14-2 margin in shots on goal. The Ravens also earned seven corner kicks, to just two for the Chargers.

The Ravens had two strong chances early in the first half, before Marques' opening tally. In the 13^th minute, they were able to set up Marques with a shooting lane on the left side, at the top of the penalty area. She blistered a shot which beat New Haven sophomore goalkeeper Paige Davis, but the ball banged off the left post and ricocheted away.

Not even five minutes later, in the 18^th minute, Franklin Pierce nearly struck off a corner kick. The right-wing service of junior midfielder Gabi Pereira (Belo Horizonte, Brazil) found the head of senior back Marta Turmo (Barcelona, Spain) at the top of the six-yard box, in front of the far post. Turmo put her header on target, but Davis was equal to the challenge and made the save.

The levee in front of the New Haven goal finally broke in the 35^th minute. Pereira would pick up an assist, as she played a through ball straight up the middle from the midfield to spring Marques. Marques and the ball met behind the defense, and the Brazilian was left with an easy finish for her second goal of the season.

The Ravens kept the pressure up on the other side of halftime. In the 51^st minute, senior midfielder Nathalia Maria da Silva (Sao Paulo, Brazil) got free with the ball on the right side of the penalty area. She uncorked a shot from 15 yards out, which Davis got a piece of with her hands. It turned out to be just enough to make the save, as the ball popped over Davis' head, tapped the top of the crossbar and went out of play.

New Haven played the final 25-plus minutes down a player, after sophomore midfielder Jenna Peduzzi was sent off, with a straight red card, for hauling a Franklin Pierce player to the turf via the latter's ponytail. The Ravens made the most of the manpower advantage and put home two more goals to finish off the 3-0 victory.

In the 70^th minute, senior forward Bruna Tavares (Belo Horizonte, Brazil) had the ball along the end line to the left of the goal and sent a cross through the penalty area. Tavares found Cousineau about 10 yards from goal, outside the right post, and Cousineau finished off her first goal of the campaign from there.

Finally, in the 85^th minute, Magerman put home a highlight-reel shot to cap the scoring. From approximately 25 yards out, off the left-wing corner of the penalty area, the freshman took a high, arcing shot towards the far post. The curling ball eluded the fingertips of Davis, kissed the inside of the right post and took up residence in the back of the net for Magerman's first collegiate score.

Freshman goalkeeper Casey Kane (Millis, Mass.) made two saves to pick up the win (2-0-0) and make it back-to-back shutouts to open her career. At the other end of the field, Davis (1-2-0) finished with 11 saves against 14 shots on goal in a losing effort.

The Ravens return to the field on Wednesday, Sept. 12, when they remain home to host Le Moyne in an NE10 contest. Game time is set for 7 p.m. at Sodexo Field.

For more information on Franklin Pierce Athletics, please visit the official website of Franklin Pierce Athletics (https://www.fpuraves.com). 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 (https://www.fpuravens.com/store).