Levins scores for Ravens; Nyzio makes seven saves

RINDGE, N.H. (September 18, 2010) – Junior forward Kathryn Nelson's second goal of the game, with just one minute to play in regulation, was the difference on Saturday afternoon, as the Franklin Pierce University field hockey team fell, 2-1, to Stonehill in non-conference play at Sodexo Field. Junior forward Tia Levins (Manchester, Maine) scored for the Ravens, while junior goalkeeper Brittany Nyzio (Attleboro, Mass.) made seven saves.

With the loss, Franklin Pierce falls to 2-3 (1-0 Northeast-10), while Stonehill improves to 3-3 (0-0 Northeast-10).

Nelson opened the scoring in the game as well, as she struck with 5:12 to play in the first half to give Stonehill a 1-0 lead heading into the halftime break. Off a penalty corner, the ball came to the top of the circle to senior forward Courtney Foley, who uncorked a shot. Nelson got her stick to the shot and deflected it behind Nyzio for her fifth goal of the season.

The Ravens would answer on a rush just over 12 minutes into the second half. Senior midfielder Kayla Simeone (North Kingstown, R.I.) had the ball coming through the midfield and sent it into the circle from 25 yards out. The pass found Levins five yards in front of the cage and off to the left, and she was able to redirect it into the back of the cage for her team-leading fifth goal of the season to tie the game at 1-1.

The match would remain knotted at 1-1 until Nelson struck again with just 60 seconds remaining in regulation. In the scramble off a penalty corner, senior midfielder Michaela Deasy fed the ball back into the circle. She found Nelson in the middle of the circle, directly in front of the cage, where she finished off her second goal of the game.

Franklin Pierce was awarded a penalty corner as time expired and ended up earning two additional corner attempts after time expired. However, repeated strikes by junior midfielder Kim Jaksina (Townsend, Mass.) were turned aside and Stonehill eventually cleared the ball to end the game.

Stonehill held a slim, 21-17 edge in shots, though Franklin Pierce held a 10-9 advantage in shots on goal. Stonehill was awarded 13 penalty corners to Franklin Pierce's seven, including an 8-3 edge in the first half.

The Ravens return to the field on Saturday, Sept. 25, when they travel to Adelphi for a non-conference contest. Game time is set for noon at Motamed Field in Garden City, N.Y. Franklin Pierce next plays at home on Sept. 28 against Saint Anselm at 7 p.m.

For more information on Franklin Pierce Athletics, please visit the official website of Franklin Pierce Athletics (http://athletics.franklinpierce.edu). Two other ways to follow the Ravens are through the Department of Athletics' official YouTube channel (http://www.youtube.com/franklinpiercesports) and its Twitter feed (http://twitter.com/FPUathletics).