COMMERCE CITY, Colo. (February 21, 2020) – The Franklin Pierce University women's lacrosse team opened its season on Friday afternoon, with a road trip to take on No. 4 nationally ranked Regis (Colo.), the two-time defending NCAA Midwest Region champion. Senior attack Ali Vanek led the way for the Rangers, with five goals and an assist for six points, while freshman attack Gabby Rothermund dished out five assists in her collegiate debut, as Regis picked up a 15-3 win in non-conference play at Dick's Sporting Goods Park. Freshman midfielder Katie Hadden (Newburyport, Mass.) had a goal and an assist for Franklin Pierce in her first collegiate action.

With the loss, Franklin Pierce opens its season at 0-1, while Regis -- which was a national semifinalist in each of the last two seasons -- improves to 1-0.

The Ravens struggled to gain possession against the national-power Rangers, as Regis posted a 14-5 advantage in draw controls. Still though, Franklin Pierce was able to hold its own in most other statistical categories. Regis held slim edges in shot attempts (23-22), shots on goal (20-15) and ground balls (24-20), as Franklin Pierce made the most of the possession it did have, at least in terms of putting balls towards the goal.

One of the biggest differences came in the goalkeeping department. Regis junior Elle Crawford, the reigning Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Goalkeeper of the Year and an IWLCA All-Region selection a year ago, made 12 saves against the 15 shots on her goal to pick up the win (1-0). At the other end of the field, Franklin Pierce freshman Erin Blake (Southborough, Mass.) got the start in her collegiate debut, surrendered eight goals against 10 shots over the opening 14:55 and suffered the loss (0-1). Sophomore Megan Bacik (Huntington Station, N.Y.) took over for the remainder and allowed seven goals on 10 shots.

Franklin Pierce opened the scoring, as sophomore attack Savannah Ernst (American Fork, Utah) put away a free-position attempt 2:47 into the proceedings, but it was all Regis from there. The Rangers rattled off the next 11 goals, over a span of 17:47 to surge to an 11-1 lead and never looked back. Vanek put home three goals in the stretch, while Rothermund provided four of her five assists. Hadden stopped the streak with her first career goal with 7:25 to play in the half, before Vanek struck again with eight seconds remaining, and Regis took a 12-2 lead into halftime.

Things quieted in the second half, which saw only four goals. Three different Regis players scored in the second half, while junior attack Caroline Lounsbury (Franklin, Mass.) found the net for Franklin Pierce, as the Rangers went on to the 15-3 victory.

Behind Vanek and Rothermund, junior midfielder Kyleigh Peoples (2-1-3), freshman attack Maddy Frank (2-1-3) and senior midfielder Andrea Macalalad (1-2-3) had three points apiece for Regis. Senior midfielder Jessica Berg snagged six draw controls, Peoples added five more, and Crawford piled up 11 ground balls, as the trio worked to help Regis control possession. Junior midfielder Sarah Kate Dhom caused a trio of turnovers.

Junior midfielder Zoe Totland (Salt Lake City, Utah) led Franklin Pierce with four ground balls, while sophomore midfielder Jenna Cimbron (Bristol, R.I.), sophomore midfielder Megyn Ayotte (Guilford, Vt.) and Bacik all snagged three apiece. Cimbron, Ayotte and freshman defender Danielle Brazeau (Southborough, Mass.) each caused two turnovers.

The Ravens return to the field on Sunday, Feb. 23, when they travel to Colorado State-Pueblo for a non-conference contest. Game time is set for 2 p.m. MST (4 p.m. EST) at Gonzales Soccer/Lacrosse Stadium in Pueblo, Colo.

For more information on Franklin Pierce Athletics, please visit the official website of Franklin Pierce Athletics (https://www.fpuravens.com). 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 lacrosse apparel can do so at the Department of Athletics' brand new online store (https://www.shopfpuravens.com).