Lawrence nets game-winner midway through second half

MANCHESTER, N.H. (October 5, 2004) – The Franklin Pierce field hockey team fell 2-1 to Saint Anselm College today in Northeast-10 action. Despite being outshot 13 to ten, the Hawks held on to defeat the Ravens on their home turf. With the win, Saint Anselm improves its overall record to 3-6 and its league mark to 3-5, while Franklin Pierce drops to 3-7 both overall and in conference play.

The Hawks jumped out to an early 1-0 advantage when senior Meg Coleman (Holliston, Mass./Holliston) scored off a crossing pass from sophomore Sarah Kane (Foxboro, Mass./Foxboro) 1:14 into the contest. Franklin Pierce fought back to tie the score at one, as junior Laura Blanchard (Rockport, Mass,/Rockport) capitalized on a flurry of shots in front of the Saint Anselm goal at the 11:40 mark of the first half. Sophomore Angela Barone (Northwood, Pa./Interboro) was credited with the assist, giving her a team-leading eight points on the season. Neither team scored for the remainder of the first half.

Saint Anselm took control in the second half, outshooting the Ravens seven to three and picking up eleven of their 18 penalty corners. With 14:23 remaining in the match, senior tri-captain Meghan Lawrence (Brookfield, Mass./Tantasqua Regional) took an Amy Slaven (Danvers, Mass./Bishop Fenwick) cross from the corner and beat Ravens goalkeeper Brandi Guertin (Bellingham, Mass./Bellingham) for the game-winner.

Senior goalkeeper Lisa Bellantoni (Hanover, Mass./Hanover) saved 12 shots for the Hawks en route to her third win of the season. Guertin took the loss for the Ravens despite saving seven shots.

Franklin Pierce (3-7, 3-7 NE-10) returns to action on Sunday at noon when they travel to LIU-C.W. Post for their lone non-conference match of the year. Saint Anselm (3-6, 3-5 NE-10) will play again on Thursday when they travel to Stonehill for a conference match beginning at 4:00 p.m.