HOOKSETT, N.H. (April 23, 2021) – In action for the third time in six days, the Franklin Pierce University women's lacrosse team made it three straight wins on Friday afternoon, on the road at Southern New Hampshire. Junior Savannah Ernst (American Fork, Utah) went off for eight points on seven goals and one assist, while junior Morgan Baxendale (Orchard Park, N.Y.) added six points on five goals and one assist, as the Ravens dealt the host Penmen a 22-12 loss at Penmen Stadium.

With the win Franklin Pierce improves to 5-1 (5-1 NE10), while SNHU falls to 2-9 (2-9 NE10).

The first half started close between the two teams. Junior Kaitlyn Daly (LaGrangeville, N.Y.) opened the scoring 106 seconds into the game with a free-position shot. SNHU sophomore Angelina Graziano scored her first goal of the game just 2:03 later, off an assist from freshman Shelby Cole to tie the game.

Franklin Pierce scored the next four goals in rapid succession, over a span of 3:52. The first two came from Baxendale. Sophomore Danielle Brazeau (Southborough, Mass.) scored the third goal with an assist from Baxendale. Ernst followed up with her first of the game to extend the lead to 5-1 with 18:20 to go in the half.

The two teams split goals during the middle part of the first half until Franklin Pierce went on another four-goal run to push the lead from 7-6 to 11-6. Ernst scored her second of the afternoon on a free-position, while freshman Gabby Oswald (Nedrow, N.Y.) got in on the scoring as well. Ayotte then scored her second of four goals in the game, followed by Baxendale with her fourth of the game.

A pair of goals for the Ravens sandwiched between three Penmen tallies made the score 13-9 in favor of the Ravens heading into halftime. Southern New Hampshire scored the first goal out of the intermission, but then the Ravens built on the first-half momentum, and outscored the Penmen 9-3 to close out the game. Ernst poured in four second-half goals to help put SNHU away.

Ernst finished with a team-leading seven goals and eight points, with support from Baxendale (5-1-6) and Ayotte (4-0-4), as well as Daly and senior Caroline Lounsbury (Franklin, Mass.), who finished with two goals and an assist apiece. Junior Jacklyn Keane (Framingham, Mass.) was able to shine defensively, as she collected five ground balls and caused five turnovers, both of which were game-highs. Daly and graduate student Sarah Waldrep (North Andover, Mass.) collected five draw controls apiece.

For SNHU, Graziano led the way with four goals, while junior Erin Gorton chipped in 3-1-4 and sophomore Skylar Renaud contributed a hat trick as well. Renaud also led all players with 13 draw controls on the afternoon, while senior Abby Crowell matched Keane with five ground balls.

Sophomore Erin Blake (Southborough, Mass.) played the first half in the Franklin Pierce net and was credited with the win (4-1), despite making just one save against 10 shots. Senior Casey Butera (West Milford, N.J.) took over for the second half and stopped four of seven shots the rest of the way.

Junior Caela McCartney (2-8) made three saves against 19 shots over the opening 38:15 and suffered the loss in the SNHU crease.

The Ravens are scheduled to return to action on Sunday, April 25, when they host Assumption at 1 p.m.