RINDGE, N.H. (September 23, 2022) -- A pair of goals by the opposition just 57 seconds apart in the first quarter set the tone early on Friday evening at Sodexo Field. The Franklin Pierce University field hockey team generated eight penalty corners on the day, but still only recorded seven shot attempts. In contrast, visiting Southern Connecticut State scored five times in just eight shots on goal, as the Owls dealt the Ravens a 5-1 defeat in the Northeast-10 Conference opener for both squads. Sophomore Trinidad Rodriguez Ricchiuti bookended the day with a pair of unassisted markers for SCSU, and added an assist along the way for a five-point outing (2-1-5).

With the loss, Franklin Pierce falls to 0-5 (0-1 NE10), while SCSU improves to 2-3 (1-0 NE10).

Back-to-back goals in the seventh and eighth minutes got SCSU out to a quick start on Friday. In the seventh minute, it was a strong individual effort from Ricchiuti, who beat multiple defenders on her way into the circle from the left side. She eventually made her way to the penalty spot and fired a shot into the left side of the cage from there, for her second goal of the season.

The next strike would come just 57 seconds later, after senior Tori Geaglone played a long ball towards the goal from the midfield. Franklin Pierce sophomore goalkeeper Addy Araneo (Yorktown Heights, N.Y.) attempted to play the ball, but could not clear it. Instead, junior Brianna Caffrey collected the ball off the keeper's pads and put away her second of the campaign.

The Owls would make it 3-0 in the second quarter. In the 19^th minute, Caffrey played a long ball up the right wing for Ricchiuti, who carried into the circle. Ricchiuti briefly lost possession in the middle of the circle, but got it right back and sent a short pass off to her left, where senior Abigail Kellerman brushed it into the cage for her second of the year.

On the other side of halftime, junior Kayla Siemer's first of the season pushed the lead out to 4-0. The Owls ran a corner play to senior Kaitlyn Bourque at the top of the circle. She then made a pass to her left for Siemer, whose shot from distance found its way home.

Franklin Pierce got one back early in the fourth quarter, on a similar-looking corner play in the 47^th minute. The ball came to the top of the circle for senior Meghan Winn (Newburyport, Mass.), who took a step towards goal and then dished it off to the left. She set up fellow senior Gabi Sturgeon (North Granby, Conn.), who put away a shot from 10 yards in front of the left post for her first of the season.

SCSU needed just 1:52 to respond and fire the game's final salvo, to create the 5-1 final. The capper came on another strong individual effort by Ricchiuti, who received the ball outside the top of the circle. From there, she went to work backing down her defender, while maintaining possession. From the penalty spot, she whipped a reverse-stick shot into the left side of the net to finish off her first collegiate multiple-goal game.

Araneo (0-3) played the first half in net for the Ravens and suffered the loss after failing to record a save against three shots on her goal. Senior MacKenzie Potvin (Goffstown, N.H.) took over for the second half and made three saves against five shots the rest of the way.

On the other side of the ledger, freshman Kaitlyn Parent (2-2) stopped four of five shots in the victory for SCSU.

The Ravens are back at it on Tuesday, Sept. 27, as they host Saint Michael's in an NE10 contest at 4 p.m. on Sodexo Field.