RINDGE, N.H. (September 14, 2022) -- Tuesday night in the Monadnock region saw severe weather, which forced the postponement of the women's soccer game between Franklin Pierce University and Saint Anselm by a day. On Wednesday night though, it was clear skies at Sodexo Field, as a crisp fall evening provided the setting for a clash between two of the Northeast-10 Conference's preseason top-six. The final half-hour was the difference, as the Ravens were finally able to break through and put home a pair to secure a 2-0 victory. Freshman Mollie Cahalane (Merrimac, Mass.) notched the game-winner -- her second winner on the young season -- in the 65^th minute.

With the win, Franklin Pierce improves to 4-1-1 (1-1-0 NE10), while Saint Anselm falls to 4-2-0 (0-2-0 NE10).

The first half was fairly even on Wednesday night, with Franklin Pierce holding advantages of 6-4 in shot attempts and 3-1 in shots on goal, though neither side could put one home. As the second half wore on, the Ravens began to break down and overpower their intrastate rivals. Franklin Pierce rang up a 12-4 margin in shot attempts after halftime, which included a 5-4 edge in shots on goal.

The breakthrough came in the 65^th minute. Junior Gianna Derose (Brewster, N.Y.) made a run down the left wing and towards the corner with possession. When she eventually swung her cross, she put it to the far side, at the top of the six-yard box, in front of the right post. There, the ball found the waiting head of Cahalane, who put it back against traffic and into the left side of the net for the fourth goal of her freshman campaign.

The Ravens controlled play for almost the entire final half-hour, holding Saint Anselm to just three shots in the span, none of which were particularly troubling. The exclamation mark then came in the 89^th minute, off a free kick 20 yards from goal, just outside the right side of the penalty area. Sophomore Jasmine Perez-Acosta (Cape Coral, Fla.) took the set piece and tucked it just inside the near post for her second of the year.

The score line, frankly, could have been much uglier for the visiting Hawks. Franklin Pierce hit the woodwork three times in the final 30 minutes and all three stayed out, twice off the crossbar and once off the right post.

The Ravens continued to split goalkeeping duties, with sophomore Gabby Calidonio (Flagler Beach, Fla.) opening the proceedings with one save in the first half. Fellow sophomore Emilie Fox (Bridgewater, Mass.) added four more saves in the second half to complete the shutout and pick up the win (2-1-1).

Freshman Emma Hudson (4-2-0) minded the Saint Anselm net and made six saves against seven shots in the loss.

The Ravens are back in action on Monday, Sept. 19, when they host Hartford in a non-conference contest at 7 p.m. on Sodexo Field.