Letarte nets fourth of the season

Alyssa Juszczyk Postgame Interview with Ravens Sports Network
Megan Bird Postgame Interview with Ravens Sports Network 

RINDGE, N.H. (October 13, 2012) – Senior midfielder Megan Bird (Laconia, N.H.) and senior back Alyssa Juszczyk (Warren, Mass.) were the focal point on a sun-splashed Saturday afternoon at Sodexo Field, though the Franklin Pierce University field hockey team dropped a 2-1 decision to Saint Michael's in Northeast-10 Conference play. Bird picked up a first-half assist to move within one of the program's record for career assists.

With the loss, Franklin Pierce falls to 3-13 (1-8 Northeast-10), while Saint Michael's improves to 5-11 (3-5 Northeast-10).

The game marked the final career home game for a pair of seniors who have won 31 games over their four seasons in crimson and grey. The duo was among nine upperclassmen on last year's team, which put together arguably the finest season in program history. Bird and Juszczyk were honored with a pre-game ceremony, where they were given collages and framed photos to commemorate their time in Rindge.

The Ravens struck first after the game got underway, as they took a 1-0 lead just 5:21 into the proceedings. From the right-wing side, Bird flipped the ball to the middle of the circle, where junior forward Chanelle Letarte (Lunenburg, Mass.) was waiting for it. She turned and fired a one-time shot, tangling up her own legs in the process. As she tumbled to the ground, the ball found its way to the back of the cage for her team-leading fourth goal of the season. Bird recorded her 13th career assist on the play, to move into a three-way tie for second in the school record books with Ashley Abernethy '10 and Debbie Jones '04. With one game remaining, Bird sits one assist behind Danielle Dolan '12.

Saint Michael's would tie the game with 6:54 to play in the first half. Off a penalty corner, senior midfielder Hali Roy stopped the ball for junior forward Kelly Celata, who drove a shot towards the net. The ball made its way through a mess of traffic and thudded against the backboard to give Celata her third goal of the season and get Saint Michael's on the board.

The Purple Knights would metaphorically rain on the Senior Day parade seven minutes into the second half, when they struck for what turned out to be the game's final goal to create the 2-1 final. From the top of the circle, sophomore midfielder Samantha Burns found senior forward Julia Heald near the penalty spot. Heald turned and fired to score her third goal of the campaign.

Freshman goalkeeper Sarah Cote (Athol, Mass.) did not record a save in taking the loss (3-13), as Saint Michael's squeaked out the one-goal victory despite facing deficits of 10-4 in shot attempts, 5-2 in shots on goal and 11-1 in penalty corners.

Sophomore goalkeeper Sarah Healey made four saves on five shots on goal at her end of the field to pick up the win (4-6) between the pipes for Saint Michael's.

The Ravens return to the field on Saturday, Oct. 20, when they travel to Assumption to close out the season with a Northeast-10 Conference contest. Game time is set for 1 p.m. at Multi-Sport Stadium in Worcester, 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 field hockey apparel can do so at the Department of Athletics' brand new online store (http://athletics.franklinpierce.edu/store).