Senior assists on both goals to finish career with 15 helpers

WORCESTER, Mass. (October 20, 2012) – Senior midfielder Megan Bird (Laconia, N.H.) of the Franklin Pierce University field hockey team entered the final game of her career on Saturday afternoon with 13 career assists, one behind the program's all-time record. An assist in the first half tied the record, and another in the second half gave her sole possession, as she finished with 15 helpers. Unfortunately, the two assists would not be enough for the Ravens, who dropped a 3-2, overtime decision on the road at Assumption in Northeast-10 Conference play.

With the loss, Franklin Pierce concludes its season at 3-14 (1-9 Northeast-10), while Assumption improves to 8-10 (5-5 Northeast-10). It marked the fourth overtime game of the season for Franklin Pierce, though it was the first which ended in a loss for the Ravens.

Bird, who dished out a program single-season record eight assists in 2011, tied and then surpassed Danielle Dolan '12, who wrapped up her career with 14 assists a year ago (Dolan also ranks second in the single-season category, with seven in 2011). In an ironic twist of fate, Dolan was in Worcester on Saturday afternoon to see her record broken, as she is currently an assistant coach with the Assumption squad.

Assumption struck first, just 3:03 into the contest, when freshman forward Maria Beatrice struck for her eighth goal of the season. Freshman midfielder Kiley Colucci chipped in the assist, her first of two on the afternoon.

It would take only 5:50 for Franklin Pierce to find the equalizer, as it tied the game at the 8:53 mark. Bird wound up with the ball just inside the circle on the left-wing side. She teed off and blasted a shot towards the net. Junior forward Chanelle Letarte (Lunenburg, Mass.) tipped the shot on the way in to notch her team-leading fifth goal of the season and allow Bird to tie the assist record.

The remainder of the first half would go without a goal, before Franklin Pierce jumped to a 2-1 lead 9:22 into the second half. Bird would be on the scene for the helper again, as she sent a pass across the goalmouth from the right-wing side towards the left post. Junior midfielder Jess Rogers (Uxbridge, Mass.) was waiting for it there and knocked home her second goal of the campaign.

The Franklin Pierce defense was under siege most of the afternoon, as Assumption finished with a 26-6 advantage in shot attempts, including 18-4 in shots on goal. The levee would finally break again with 7:57 to play in regulation, after holding strong for 59 minutes after the first-half goal, as Assumption found the equalizer to knot the game at 2-2. Colucci sent a shot towards the cage and sophomore forward Paige Anderson got her stick to it for the re-direct to score her team-leading 12th goal of the season.

The Anderson goal ultimately sent the game to overtime, where the Greyhounds would strike again to post the 3-2 victory with just 39 seconds to play in the first extra session. Anderson picked up an assist this time, as she set up the sixth goal of the season for freshman midfielder Sarah Frahm.

Freshman goalkeeper Sarah Cote (Athol, Mass.) made 15 saves against 18 shots on goal, but took the loss (3-14) in net for Franklin Pierce. Junior Heather Philbrick stopped two of the four shots on her cage to pick up the win (1-1) between the pipes for Assumption.

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).