Recap by student-staff writer Jonah Boyea

KEENE, N.H. (3/5/2025) – Franklin Pierce women's lacrosse took a step back and suffered their first conference loss of the season to the number two national ranked Pace Setters 18-4 Wednesday night.

Score: Pace 18, Franklin Pierce 4
Records: Pace 5-0 (1-0, NE10), Franklin Pierce 1-2 (0-1, NE10)
Location: Owl Athletic Complex, Keene, N.H.
Date: Wednesday, March 5th, 2025

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Action started early for the Setters of Pace University as not even two minutes in, Annie Sheehan netted the first goal of the game and set the pace for the Setters who scored ten goals in the first period. Mackenzie Carita capitalized on a scoring chance forty seconds later making it a 2-0 game. Lisa Heffernan then scored back-to-back goals for the Setters with one being from the free position, making it 4-0. Marissa Doty then joined in on the scoring not even a minute after extending the lead to 5-0. Maddie Schubert then scored with the up advantage for the Setters increasing the lead to 6-0. Then twenty seconds later, Marissa Doty scored her second goal of the period making it 7-0. Sheehan at the eight minute-mark scored her second goal of the game, increasing the lead even more. Heffernan also found the back of the net for the third time in first period and was later followed by Nikki Mottes who scored the Setters tenth goal of the period, putting the Setters in control, 10-0.
• The Setters opened the scoring in the second period with Doty netted her third goal of the game just over fifteen seconds into the period. The Ravens were then able to create some offense and with the help of Erin McIlroy (Newfields, N.H.), Olivia Robb (East Longmeadow, Mass.) was able to convert and score the Ravens first goal, making it 11-1.
• Around four minutes later, Mottes cashed in her second goal of the game, shifting momentum back to the Setters, now 12-1. Carita then notched her second goal of the game at the six minute-mark increasing the Setters lead. Doty continued to stay hot and at the three minute-mark, scored her fourth goal of the game, making it 14-1. After assisting Robb earlier in the period, McIlroy was able to break through and score the Ravens second goal of the game, 14-2.
• The third period was all Ravens as Hayley Hermsdorf (Center Moriches, N.Y.) cashed in the Ravens third goal of the game and was followed by a late goal with nineteen seconds left from McIlroy for her second goal of the game, making it 14-4.
• The fourth period then shifted back towards the Setters with Carita scoring three of the Setters four goals in the period, finishing with five goals in the game. Katie Long added the icing to the cake with three minutes left on the free position shot to secure the 18-4 win over the Ravens.

BREAKING DOWN THE NUMBERS:

• The Ravens were outshot by the Setters 42-10.
• Katherine Hickey (Farmingdale, NY) made two saves on 10 shots in the loss. Saige Paradise (Milford, N.H.) made ten saves on twenty shots in relief in net for the Ravens.
• The Ravens had 19 ground balls while the Setters had 17.

NEXT FOR THE RAVENS: The Ravens are back at home on Saturday as they host Adelphi with faceoff scheduled for 12 pm.