Levins nets pair for Ravens, scores 20th career goal

RINDGE, N.H. (September 22, 2011) – Senior forward Tia Levins (Manchester, Maine) scored a pair of goals on Thursday evening, but the Franklin Pierce University field hockey team was defeated, 3-2, by Saint Michael's in non-conference play at Sodexo Field. Freshman forward Cassaundra Davis scored all three goals, including the game-winner with 4:54 to play, for Saint Michael's.

With the loss, Franklin Pierce falls to 2-5 (0-0 Northeast-10), while Saint Michael's improves to 2-7 (1-1 Northeast-10). The two teams will play their Northeast-10 Conference contest on Oct. 15 at Saint Michael's.

Though the first half went without goal, both teams had their opportunities to break through, as Saint Michael's held a slim, 8-7 edge in shot attempts, as well as a 5-4 advantage in penalty corners. All the offense would wait until the second half, when the teams would combine to score all five of their goals.

Franklin Pierce broke the ice 3:15 into the second stanza, as Levins was the beneficiary of a long, pinpoint pass through traffic by sophomore midfielder Alesia Gleason (Harwich, Mass.). Gleason possessed the ball outside the circle on the right wing and threaded the ball betwixt and between the Saint Michael's defenders. The pass found its way to the stick of Levins, who only needed to deflect it into the gaping cage for her second goal of the season.

Saint Michael's would answer 7:06 later when senior midfielder Taylor Wahrenbrock sent the ball towards the net from the top-right area of the circle. Davis got her stick to the ball while it was on its way in and deflected it past Franklin Pierce freshman goalkeeper Rachel Corso (North Branford, Conn.) to tie the game at 1-1. It was Davis' second goal of the season.

Another 10:06 after the Davis goal, Levins would finish her double with an unassisted tally. Senior midfielder Kim Jaksina (Townsend, Mass.) took a shot from the left side of the circle that was kicked away by Saint Michael's senior goalkeeper Jackie Stacey. However, the rebound dropped right to Levins, who got just enough of it to force it past the goalie and have it trickle over the goal line inside the right post.

Levins' second goal was the 20th of her career, which made her just the third player in program history to reach the 20-goal plateau. She joined Debbie Jones (26 goals from 2000-03) and Mary Beth Huszar (23 from 2004-07). Both Jaksina (18) and senior forward Danielle Dolan (West Brookfield, Mass.) (15) could potentially join the 20-goal club before the end of the season.

Once again, Davis would provide the answer, this time just 42 seconds later. Saint Michael's built a scoring opportunity in the middle of the circle, and Corso came off her line to kick away a shot. However, the ball popped up in the air and fell to Davis at the penalty spot. A defensive scramble could not stop her shot as she put it to the back of the cage to tie the game at 2-2.

Davis would complete her hat trick with the game-winning goal with only 4:54 remaining in regulation. This time she found the ball amidst the traffic of a skirmish in front of the cage and put home the goal that would send the Purple Knights to the victory.

Franklin Pierce held a 13-7 edge in shot attempts in the second half to take a 20-15 advantage for the game, which included a 12-6 advantage in shots on goal. The Ravens earned 12 penalty corners against 10 for Saint Michael's.

Corso started, made three saves against three shots and took the loss (0-1) in front of the cage for Franklin Pierce in her collegiate debut. Stacey turned aside 10 of the 12 shots on her cage to pick up the win (2-7) between the pipes for Saint Michael's.

The Ravens return to the field on Saturday, Sept. 24, when they travel to Southern Connecticut State for their Northeast-10 Conference opener. Game time is set for 2 p.m. at Jess Dow Field in New Haven, Conn. Franklin Pierce next plays at home on Saturday, Oct. 1 against Bentley at 1 p.m.

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).