RINDGE, N.H. (October 29, 2022) -- In what was likely to be a pivotal contest in the Northeast-10 Conference postseason chase, the Franklin Pierce University field hockey team dominated the run of play at home on Sodexo Field on Saturday. The Ravens rang up 19 penalty corner attempts, while conceding none, and used them to pile up an advantage of 29-8 in shot attempts. Where Franklin Pierce struggled was converting those shots into quality scoring chances, as the margin in shots on goal was only 10-6 in the home team's favor. Despite the statistical supremacy, the scoreboard would not go the Ravens' way, as visiting Mercy struck twice in the first quarter and again in the third, to pick up a 3-1 victory.

With the loss, Franklin Pierce falls to 4-10 (3-6 NE10), while Mercy improves to 5-5 (4-5 NE10). The Mavericks will also have a tiebreaker advantage over the Ravens, should they finish even with each other, thanks to the head-to-head victory.

Mercy uncorked half of its eight shot attempts in the first quarter, and a pair of goals just 88 seconds apart in the middle of the frame were all the offense the team would need. In the eighth minute, junior Rachel Palladino saw her initial shot saved, but the rebound trickled behind Franklin Pierce sophomore goalkeeper Addy Araneo (Yorktown Heights, N.Y.). The Raven defender on the goal line was unable to clear the ball from danger before Palladino followed up and finished off her second of the season.

Shortly thereafter, in the ninth minute, a 2-on-2 inside the circle resulted in a 2-0 Mercy lead. Graduate student Alyssa Sacco had the feed down the middle for junior Rieley Fitzgerald, who made her way to the right post and slotted away her third goal of the campaign.

The game would go without another goal until late in the third quarter, when Sacco and Fitzgerald connected again, for a 44^th-minute insurance tally. This time, Fitzgerald provided a long feed, from along the end line on the right side, and Sacco had the quick finish out front for her team-leading seventh of the year.

Meanwhile, the Mercy defensive circle was a veritable shooting gallery throughout the afternoon, particularly for three of Franklin Pierce's biggest offensive weapons. Sophomore Rebecca Phillips (West Amwell, N.J.), senior Christine Jarowicz (Kennebunk, Maine) and senior Meghan Winn (Newburyport, Mass.) all set new career highs for shots, with nine, seven and six attempts, respectively.

All the Ravens got to show for it though was a goal from Winn with less than two seconds remaining in the game, which spoiled the shutout bid of Mercy graduate student goalkeeper Lauren Viscione. Winn won possession near the top of the circle, drove around a defender to the left, reversed her stick and popped home her second of the season from five yards outside the left post to create the 3-1 final.

Araneo (4-6) made two saves against two shots in the first half and suffered the loss in front of the Franklin Pierce cage. Senior MacKenzie Potvin (Goffstown, N.H.) took over for the second half and made one save against two shots. Viscione (5-5) made eight saves against nine shots and narrowly missed her first shutout of the season.

The Ravens have their final two home games of the season in the week ahead, beginning with a Wednesday afternoon NE10 contest against Bentley. Game time is set for 4 p.m. on Nov. 2 at Sodexo Field.