Burnell scores for Ravens

COLCHESTER, Vt. (September 29, 2015) – After the two teams traded goals sandwiched around the halftime break, the Franklin Pierce University field hockey team forced the issue on the road in the second half on Tuesday, but was unable to take a lead at Duffy Field. Instead, the Northeast-10 Conference contest went to overtime, where Saint Michael's senior midfielder Morgan Mazanec scored the game-winning goal in a 2-1 victory for the Purple Knights.

With the loss, Franklin Pierce falls to 5-4 (1-3 Northeast-10), while Saint Michael's improves to 4-4 (1-3 Northeast-10).

With the teams' manpower reduced to seven aside in overtime, Saint Michael's capitalized on the first, and ultimately only, scoring opportunity of the extra session. In the 75th minute, Mazanec sent the ball to the top of the circle for senior forward Megan Deschaine, who drove it towards the net from there, though the ball appeared to be deflected by the defense en route. In the meantime, Mazanec had made her way to the left post and, after the deflection came straight to her, had an easy finish for her fourth goal of the season, which sent Saint Michael's away victorious.

Earlier in the day, Saint Michael's had struck first, with just 3:30 to play in the first half, in the 32nd minute. Again, the Purple Knights capitalized on a penalty corner, this time after Mazanec sent the ball to junior forward Carolyn Avery up top. Much like the eventual game-winner, Saint Michael's sent the ball towards the net and it wound up back with Mazanec, who had cut to the left post. The first time around though, Franklin Pierce sophomore goalkeeper Meaghan Williams (Salem, N.H.) had the opportunity to make a save, which she did. Unfortunately for Williams and the Ravens, freshman forward Maddy Dobecki was in the area as well, and was able to clean up the rebound for her first collegiate goal.

After the halftime break, Franklin Pierce needed just 4:46 to draw level at 1-1, in the 40th minute. Though the goal didn't come as a result of a corner play, the aftermath of a corner eventually left the ball on the stick of junior forward Andrea Fahey (Hudson, Mass.) inside the circle, near the end line, on the right-wing side. Fahey spun to her left, protecting the ball and allowing her to move around her defender, which opened a passing lane. Fahey provided a slight lift to her service into the goalmouth, which allowed the ball to hop at least one defensive stick and find its way to the left post for senior midfielder Chelsey Burnell (Porter, Maine), who finished off her fourth goal of the campaign.

Franklin Pierce controlled long stretches of play at times on Tuesday, particularly in the second half, which allowed it to collect 15 shot attempts, 11 of which went on goal. However, in the first half, the Ravens also surrendered six penalty corners to Saint Michael's, which prevented the crimson and grey from generating much first-half pressure. Then, the Ravens were only able to convert once on five second-half corners before the game headed to overtime.

Williams (4-3) finished with seven saves against nine shots on goal in the losing effort, while Fahey added a defensive save along the way. On the Saint Michael's side of the ledger, junior Abigail Bowie (4-4) stopped 10 of the 11 shots on her cage.

The Ravens return to the field on Friday, Oct. 2, when they return home to host Pace in a Northeast-10 Conference contest. Game time is set for 7 p.m. at Sodexo Field.

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 can do so at the Department of Athletics' online store (http://athletics.franklinpierce.edu/store).