RINDGE, N.H. (March 15, 2022) -- Senior Megyn Ayotte (Guilford, Vt.) scored four goals and added an assist on Tuesday afternoon, but did not get much help offensively, and it was not nearly enough for the Franklin Pierce University women's lacrosse team in the squad's Northeast-10 Conference opener. Stonehill senior Kendall Fressle struck for seven goals and an assist, while junior Lydia Rudden piled up seven points of her own (2-5-7), as the duo powered the visiting Skyhawks to a 22-11 win.

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

After falling behind 6-2 through the end of the first quarter, Franklin Pierce held its own in the second quarter, to close the gap to 11-8 heading into halftime. A run of three straight goals through the middle of the period trimmed a 8-3 deficit to 8-6, as senior Savannah Ernst (American Fork, Utah) worked the ball out front from the left side, then senior Morgan Baxendale (Orchard Park, N.Y.) made a long run to goal from midfield, and Ayotte capped the spurt by powering out front from the left side.

Stonehill stretched the lead back to 10-6, but Franklin Pierce scored two of the final three goals of the frame to make it a three-goal halftime deficit. Graduate student Caroline Lounsbury (Franklin, Mass.) capped the half with a free-position shot with 10 seconds remaining.

It was the third quarter which would take care of things. Stonehill poured in seven goals, to just two for the Ravens, to firmly seize control of the afternoon. After Ayotte opened the second-half scoring, it was a run of seven straight goals for the Skyhawks, over a span of 7:17, to break things open and balloon an 11-9 lead out to 18-9. Fressle scored twice during the run and sophomore Molly Mae Hughes set up senior Emma Sullivan on the left side to cap things off.

Stonehill posted a 4-1 margin in the fourth quarter for good measure, to win going away, 22-11.

Behind Ayotte (4-1-5) for the Ravens, Ernst (3-0-3) put together a hat trick, but no other player contributed more than two points. Ernst nabbed seven draw controls to lead the team.

On the other side, Fressle (7-1-8) and Rudden (2-5-7) lit up the scoreboard all afternoon for Stonehill, with help from Sullivan, who found the net four times. Sullivan also led all players with nine draw controls, while senior Julia D'Agostino and junior Victoria Butler picked up three ground balls apiece.

Junior Erin Blake (Southborough, Mass.) made six saves against 16 shots over 47:25 in the Franklin Pierce crease, did not get much help from her defense and was saddled with the loss (0-3). Sophomore Claire Smith (1-0) played the first half for Stonehill and made just one save against nine shots, but picked up the win anyway.

The Ravens are on the road in NE10 play this weekend, as they visit New Haven for a 1 p.m. start on Saturday.